Publications / Improvements in Intensive Care Attributed to CCRF Aid

(Lutsk, Volynian Region) The Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund has received a highly encouraging report from its partner hospital in Volyn' indicating a notable decrease in infant mortality over the past two years. In a report issued in September of 1999, the Volynian Regional (Oblasny) Children's Medical Center (VODTMO) compared the mortality rate for children undergoing treatment for birth defects, premature births and other complications between 1995 and 1999.

According to Dr. Mykola Hnatiw, one of the leading neonatal specialists at the Volynian Center, the number of children undergoing treatment at the Center has increased slightly from 1995 to 1998. However, mortality has fallen off sharply from 51 deaths in 1995 to only 11 in the first six months of this year. "This represents a more than 50% decrease in the number of infant deaths in our facility, from 27% four years ago to under 12% this year," said Dr. Hnatiw. "These are very encouraging indicators."

Hnatiw and his colleagues have attributed much of this improvement to new technology and training provided by the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund which has delivered more than $500,000 dollars' worth of intensive care equipment to the facility, beginning in November of 1997. Among the most prized items delivered by CCRF was a fully-equipped ambulance that has enabled doctors in Lutsk to reach newborns in some of the most remote villages in this rural province and to transport them safely to Volyn's central critical care facility. (See photos, page 4)

"In one year, we have doubled the number of children we are bringing from remote maternity clinics," Hnatiw explained. Thanks to the initiative of Professor Volodymyr and Oksana Bakum of Highland, New York and a very generous gift from the Matushevsky/Bakum Families, CCRF was able to leverage and install five complete neonatal stations at the Volynian pediatric center. The new work stations are equipped with infant warmers and pulse oximeters that help staff in monitoring and stabilizing the infants' condition.

CCRF's experience in Lutsk follows similar successes it has achieved at its partner hospitals in Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv with the help of grants from Monsanto and the John Deere Company. The success of the Volynian neonatal team convinced CCRF medical advisers to stage a national training conference in Lutsk between October 18 and 20th this year. (See related story, front page)

To support CCRF's Infant Survival Initiative, supporters are urged to send their tax-deductible contributions to CCRF, 272 Old Short Hills Rd. Short Hills, NJ 07078