Eight children from Okhmatdyt have arrived in Germany for treatment
The Ministry of Health has sent a third group of children for treatment abroad, who were at Okhmatdyt during the russian terrorist attack. International partners from the European Commission and the World Health Organization quickly responded to the Ministry of Health's request for evacuation needs and ensured the prompt transportation of the children to Germany. German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach promised on the first day after the terrorist attack to accept the children for treatment in the country.
“The Ministry of Health sincerely thanks all partners who extended a helping hand during this difficult time. We are especially grateful to our colleagues from the European Commission's “Medevac” project, which has been evacuating our citizens who have become victims of russian aggression for treatment abroad since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Over more than two years of our cooperation, more than 5,000 patients have been evacuated and have received or continue to receive free treatment in the EU.”
Among the evacuees is three-year-old Dmytro. He is traveling to Germany with his mother, Oksana. His father, Vitaliy, who remains in Ukraine, accompanies them to the evacuation bus. About a month ago, Dmytro was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the parents chose Okhmatdyt because it offered the best treatment.
“We've been at Okhmatdyt since the beginning of June. We had high hopes for this treatment. No one expected what happened on Monday. At the time of the attack, we were in the hospital. It was a shock. I don't know how to discuss it. Now, Okhmatdyt's capabilities are limited, so we're going abroad. The fight against this disease continues, it’s not a matter of one or two months. And it's very difficult. I'm going with my son, and we also have two older boys, 13 and 7 years old, who are staying with my husband, but we have hope for the treatment.”
At the beginning of the week, the first 4 children have already flown to Austria and Switzerland for treatment. Consequently, a total of 12 children from Ohmatdyt have been evacuated abroad. We encourage parents of young patients at Ohmatdyt to consult with their doctors regarding the need for evacuation. If necessary, please fill out the form.
Coordinators at the "Medevac" office within the Ministry of Health will assist with gathering necessary documents and guide on all organizational matters.
We also thank our partners at UNICEF, who, with the support of the Government of Sweden, have provided financial assistance to families traveling abroad with their children for treatment.