Rinat Akhmetov Foundation makes up-to-date TB diagnostics accessible for HIV-infected patients in Donetsk

Since August of 2011, Donetsk has been implementing a new project funded by Rinat Akhmetov Foundation "Development of Ukraine", aimed at introducing the most accurate and sensitive method of tuberculosis diagnostics in HIV infected patients free of charge. More than 30 patients from Donetsk and Donetsk region registered at Donetsk Regional AIDS Center and who receive treatment at the Regional Clinical TB Hospital, have undergone the so-called PCR diagnosis method (polymer chain reaction diagnostics). Mycobacteria tuberculosis were detected in 15% cases, and this method has facilitated the diagnosis and spared time to start treatment.

This method is currently the most efficient, but as well the most expensive - not everyone can afford the PCR diagnostics. At the same time, the main death reasons of HIV-infected people are delayed diagnosis, opportunistic infections, among them tuberculosis. Tuberculosis in HIV-positive is difficult to diagnose, because half of the cases are smear-negative (the main method for TB diagnosis is microscopy and bacteriology, i.e. the detection of tuberculosis bacteria in sputum). PCR method can identify the presence of TB bacteria isolated in the specimen.

Therefore, Rinat Akhmetov Foundation "Development of Ukraine", continuing the implementation of its ambitious program to address the TB epidemic in Donetsk region, have made a contract with private  laboratory in Donetsk, which has a quality certificate for TB diagnostics by PCR screening of HIV-infected patients. It is planned to extend the project till the next year, until the equipment for molecular genetic (PCR) methods for TB diagnostics is purchased for Regional Clinical Tuberculosis Hospital (scheduled for 2013).

Captain Of Doomed Hockey Team Was Secret Donor To Sick Children

A sad twist in the Yak-42 tragedy reveals that one of Lokomotiv players who died in the crash was anonymously giving money to sick kids, and the last half-million ruble payment was transferred to a young cancer patient minutes before the take-off.

It was several days ago that the parents of 16-year-old Diana Ibragimova from Voronezh learned the real name of the man who saved their daughter’s life. 

Ivan Tkachenko, captain of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club, was sending big sums of money to Voronezh without disclosing his name or expecting any gratitude at all, Lifenews online tabloid reports.

Diana’s mother burst into tears when she learned Ivan had died in a horrible accident. It took her a long time to understand that the man she knew nothing about, just that his name was Ivan, was in fact Ivan Tkachenko, captain of the famous Lokomotiv hockey club.

The hockey player’s secret was disclosed thanks to a well-known Russian blogger, Varfolomeev. In one of his latest posts he wrote that the athlete had regularly been transferring large sums of money to sick children. Diana was one of the several lucky children whom Ivan had patronized.

Ivan transferred money to Diana’s family twice, and both times he asked that his name not be indicated under any circumstances. 

“We did not even know who our daughter’s benefactor was, just his first name,” cried Elena, Diana’s mother. “We received 500,000-ruble transfers twice; they both came from an unknown Ivan. I thought he might be a successful businessman and could not imagine he was one of the best-known Russian hockey players. Such a young man!”exclaims Elena.

After the family received the second transfer, they wrote a letter to Ivan, but they never received an answer. Neither Diana nor her mother knew that just minutes after sending the money, Ivan Tkachenko died in a horrific plane crash not far from the city of Yaroslavl. 

The modest young hockey player did not like to talk about his philanthropy. Only his closest friends knew that Ivan helped children who were diagnosed with terrible diseases. 

“Vanya adored children,” one of Tkachenko’s friends recalled. “His wife is now expecting their third child.”

His relatives say Ivan always rushed to help when he saw a child needed his assistance.

“Ivan did not want anyone to know he was taking part in charity,” said the authorities at the Advita charity fund. “He did not want gratitude; he just helped kids and adults who were in need of his help. He saved many lives!” they added.

via RussiaToday

Ministry of Health, the National Academy of Sciences, MTS Ukraine, Rinat Akhmetov Charitable Foundation "Development of Ukraine" and DTEK have signed Memorandum of understanding about national telemedicine network

The Memorandum of understanding on further development of national telemedicine network was signed in the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
The memorandum envisages the consolidation of existing initiatives in the field of telemedicine by the Ministry of Health, the National Academy of Sciences, the company "MTS Ukraine", Rinat Akhmetov Charitable Foundation "Development of Ukraine" and DTEK power company.The aim of this collaboration is to increase the availability of specialized care for communtities in rayon  centers and residents of remote settlements in Ukraine by means of telecommunications technology.A wire telemedicine network is now being established by means of which the data transfer will be ensured. The project provides medical facilities with necessary equipment, which will gurantee transfer of medical data within computer network by means of special videoconferencing software. Network channels will be protected from unauthorized editing, printing and deletion.
Currently the network is already being used for regular medical consultations and remote participation in medical conferences. A solution is now developed that will allow midwife stations from rural areas joining to the telemedicine network .
By the end of 2011 9 medical facilities of regional and city level in Kiev, Lviv, Donetsk, Rivne and Ivano-Frankivsk region will have been involved into the telemedicine network.

Krasnoarmeysk gets new mobile ICUs

On 27.07.11 Krasnoarmeysk got new mobile ICUs. Two new mobile Ford ICUs and two new Gazel ambulance cars are waiting for new owners - specialists of Krasnoarmeysk central rayon hospital and Konstantinovka ambulance service. Boris Kolesnikov Charitable Foundation beared all expenses related to procurement and outfitting the vehicles.
Marina Dedenko, Director of B. Kolesnikov Foundation: Boris Kolesnikov has a system-based approach to charity, he would change something in order to prevent problems rather than just give money.
Total costs of all 4 fully equipped ICUs made UAH 2 400 000, but money is not the point, the most important thing is to help patients and make the doctors' work easier.
Denis Omelyanovich, MP: These ICUs transferred today will assist medical workers and will bring the quality of their to a higher level.
Those who faced at least once our ambulance services, know that sometimes obsolete ambulance cars arrive at call-outs, that cannot provide quality emergency services. 80% of all Krasnoarmeysk ambulance cars are older than 10 years, it goes without saying that the equipment is obsolete too. So, these vehicles are essential for the region.
Tatyana Volkova, Head Doctor of Krasnoarmeysk central rayon hospital: "These vehicles are up-to-date, with equipment we could have only dreamt of".
After the official part vehicles were blessed and the representative of the supplier gave a master-class of vehicle and equipment maintenance.

Speech of Rinat Akhmetov, President of the Foundation for Development of Ukraine at Press-Conference “Cancer Can Be Cured. Timely Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment in Ukraine”

Dear friends!

Thank you very much for having found the time and possibility to join us today to discuss the most urgent problem of oncology diseases.

Ukraine has registered 910,267 people with cancer at the moment. Every year adds another 160,000, with 90,000 dying of the disease.

It’s terrible. The question is what to do? The only possible answer is not to give up, fight, and prevail.

But what do we have to fight and to prevail? On the one hand, there are good and top-skilled doctors, on the other hand – limited technical capacities.

I think you are aware that cancer morbidity in Europe and the USA is higher compared to Ukraine, while the mortality is lower. Why? Because they invest much in early diagnostics and effective treatment.

I ask myself – how can I help? By investing big money in early diagnostics and effective treatment of cancer.

For this reason, I decided to provide $ 40m for fighting cancer with $20m to be allocated on  Donbass region, $10m – on the National Institute of Cancer, and another $10m – on Western Ukraine.

Thank you for your attention. 

see more about Rinat Akhmetov Foundation Program "Cancer Can Be Cured. Timely Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment in Ukraine"

Petro Poroshenko Foundation Donates Bus for Children With Special Needs

The bus for children with special needs came to the village Hnatkiv, Tomashpil rayon, Vinnytsia region. Petro Poroshenko Foundation together with the Dutch Wild Geese Foundation made this gift for the children.
Commenting on the bus transfer, P.Poroshenko said he was very pleased to make such "special gifts", because they offer much larger world of new experiences and opportunities for children with disabilities in rehabilitation center now.
Visitor from the Netherlands said that the theme of children with special needs is very close to him personally, as he is experienced pediatrician and heads now the special fund. In Europe, the government reimburses the money spent on charity events, and strongly supports the charity in general, whilst in Ukraine entrepreneurs who are engaged in good deeds, do this to their own risk, but the important thing is that despite all difficulties people keep doing good things, and this gives hope, as noted Head of Wild Geese Foundation.
Interesting is that the Dutch government fully compensates the budget money spent on charity. In Ukraine it is an entirely voluntary action and in no way promoted by the state. On the contrary, in most cases domestic benefactors usually have troubles with such expenses.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation becomes partner of the National Project “New Life”

Continuing implementation of the "Cradles of Hope” program, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation has become a partner in the national project “New Life”, focusing on the opening of perinatal centres in all regions of Ukraine. This announcement was made by the founder of the Foundation, Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk during presentation of the “New Life” national project.
Through this partnership the Victor Pinchuk Foundation will equip neonatal intensive care departments in all 27 perinatal centres opened under the project. For these purposes, the Foundation will allocate UAH 100 million.
Victor Pinchuk referred to the “Cradles of Hope” program as his “most successful investment”. The program started in 2006. Since then intensive care units supplied with modern medical equipment to care for newborns, were opened in 22 Ukrainian cities and towns. Thanks to these centres, doctors managed to save lives of more than 8,000 infants.
Victor Pinchuk: “The "New Life" project ‘hits the mark’, as they say. It is a powerful lever that would help reduce infant mortality rate in Ukraine substantially. And so the decision to join forces in this project was natural for us. We have suggested the President of Ukraine to equip neonatal intensive care departments within the framework of the project "New Life”. The President has accepted our offer. And I am glad that today we are moving into an active phase of the project.”

Rinat Akhmetov Foundation Reports on Reducing the Tuberculosis Burden in Ukraine

Tetyana Bilyk, Leader of FDU Programm for TB Control

The meeting of stakeholders took place on 30 June 2011 in the conference hall of the Khreschatyk hotel where R9 primary recipients of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria reported on their work for the period from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011 and discussed the general issues to be considered and agreed upon by the stakeholders.
Participants presented the following reports:
Program implementation results for Reducing the TB Burden in Ukraine through Expanding and Enhancing Access to High Quality TB Services – Tetyana Bilyk, Foundation for Development of Ukraine.
Program implementation results for Support for Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Treatment and Care for Most Vulnerable Population Groups in Ukraine – Volodymyr Kurpita, All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
Program implementation results for Support for Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Treatment and Care for Most Vulnerable Population Groups in Ukraine – Pavel Smirnov, Deputy Director in charge of program-related issues, International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine

The meeting featured presentation of the Stop TB in Ukraine program logo. The partners were informed about the logo creation and selection process.  The participants discussed and planned the national-scale events within the framework of the following programs:
National Conference to Fight TB Epidemic (initiated by the Foundation for Development of Ukraine)
Concluding Conference on Strengthening Ukraine’s Response to HIV/AIDS Epidemic by Providing Services and Information (SUNRISE) (initiated by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine)
Besides, the meeting organizers announced that Michel Kazatchkine, GFATM Executive Director, is visiting Ukraine in October 2011 and disclosed the purpose and program of his visit.

Boris Kolesnikov Foundation Health Care Programs

Boris Kolesnikov - Vice-Premier of Ukraine, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the founder of Boris Kolesnikov Foundation. 

Programs:

"Modern medical technologies to be!"
Total budget: UAH 2,3 million. 

Objective: To create conditions for leading medical professionals to apply the most advanced neurosurgery technologies. 

Foundation acquired modern mobile X-ray diagnostic unit, an ultrasonic dissector, an anesthetic station of the new generation, a unique operating table. Medical equipment was installed in the laser-endoscopic spinal neurosurgery clinic at Neurosurgery Institute of Medical Sciences of Ukraine named after Romodanov. 

Social benefits:
The level of technical capabilities of donated medical equipment can significantly improve the quality of surgery and significantly reduce post-operative recovery period.
It will help over to a thousand patients annually.

Viktor Pinchuk Foundation Health Care Programs

Viktor Pinchuk - the founder and main owner of EastOne Group Ltd and Victor Pinchuk Foundation. 

Programs:

"Cradles of Hope"

2006 - 2010 - UAH 49,9 mln.

The key objectives of the program:

• reducing the child mortality in the country and improving the quality of life for rescued children (reduced disability);
• Support to the government in the transition to the international standards of birth registration.

During the implementation of the program:   

• 22 centres for newborn care "Cradles of Hope" opened in 19 regions;
• 643 units of modern medical equipment procured and supplied;
• 13 trainings held, attended by 376 doctors and nurses from all regions. Hundreds of neonatology specialists have upgraded their qualifications.

Social benefits 

7,5 thousand of newborns were saved thanks to the equipment procured by the Foundation.

105 thousand children were born in the centers, out of them 19,3 thousand received care at the departments of resuscitation and intensive therapy.

Elena Pinchuk Foundation Health Care Programs

Elena Pinchuk - Head of Directors Board in StarLightMedia, Founder of the ANTIAIDS Foundation, the first and the sole private charity foundation, committed to fighting against AIDS epidemic in Ukraine.

Programs:

Information campaigns.

2003 - 2010 years - $3 million. 

17 promotional social video ads were created and demonstrated on the national TV channels. The commercial value of the social advertizing campaign by StarLightMedia is estimated at over $60 million. Foundation conducted the large-scale actions to promote AIDS control in Ukraine: charitable concert ща Elton John in Kiev, Queen + Paul Rodgers in Kharkov, Bill Clinton's speech at Mykhailivska Square in Kiev. At the charity auction during the dinner in honor of the 42nd U.S. President a record amount for Ukraine was raised - $ 3 million.

Mobile clinics.

March 31, 2009 - till present - $ 4.6 milion.

Five mobile clinics for HIV-positive children (minibuses Mercedes Vito), equipped with modern medical appliances, purchased for the funds raised at the charity auction AIDS Army Fashion - $ 580 thousand. Clinics were transferred to the AIDS Centers. The project covered 5,5 thousand children born to HIV-positive mothers. This is more than 70% of Ukrainian children affected by HIV/AIDS.   

The joint project with the Clinton Foundation.

Contribution of  ANTIAIDS Foundation: $2,5 million

Since 2006, in Dnepropetrovsk oblast the joint project of the two founadtions has been functioning. In its framework the first Ukraine's   program was introduced, that provides rapid tests for HIV in the most remote settlements.

Rinat Akhmetov Foundation Health Care Programs

Rinat Akhmetov -  owner of SCM Group, the founder of the charitable foundations Development of Ukraine and Foundation for Effective Governance. 

Programs:

Stop TB in Ukraine 

Total budget: $168,2 million for 2007 - 2011, for 2007 - 2010 $37,7 m., for 2011 $130,5 m.

Since 2007, the Foundation has been realizing a large-scale project "Stop TB". In 2009, the Fund managed to attract funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This project will complement the National program for tuberculosis control. 

In 5 year-period cure rate is planned to be increased by 35% (from 59% to 80%). Total amount of 5-year grant is over $95 million aimed to create a laboratory quality control system for anti-TB drugs, over 80% of health workers shall be trained according to international standards.

Social effect.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health draft law regulating TB control was developed. Children departments in 22 regional TB hospitals were equipped. Functioning under the regional program for TB control allowed to decrease incidence in Donetsk oblast by 13.5%, mortality by 19.9% ​​comparing to 2006.  

Cancer Can Be Cured

Total budget: $315 million for 2008-2013, for 2008-2010 $72 m., for 2011 $80 m.
Purpose: to introduce the European level of cancer diagnosis and treatment in Ukraine. 

Diagnostic equipment for Donetsk and Lviv cancer clinics procured and installed. In 2011, the Radiation Therapy Centers were equipped in Rivne and Lviv oncological dispensaries, the delivery of the second unit is scheduled. Memorandum on cooperation is signed between the Foundation, Rivne  Regional State Administration and Rivne City oncology hospital.The facility will be equipped with linear accelerator, a modern CT and other equipment for radiation therapy and cancer diagnostics, to the total amount of $ 22 million. In the clinic there will be a regional center of radiation therapy, where patients from neighboring areas may also be treated. 

Social effect.
15 000 patients of Lviv and Donetsk centers have already been diagnosed using high-technology equipment. Experts have mastered and are actively using new methods of diagnosis and treatment of cancer.