Category: News

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News Humanitarian/Medical

11 ambulances delivered to Ukraine to help Emergency Healthcare save lives.

An average of two attacks on health care – including the bombing of hospitals, torture of medics, and shooting at ambulances – were perpetrated each day from February 24 to December 31, 2022, reported by OCHA.

“Arriving in time, providing the wounded with the necessary first aid en route, and bringing them to the hospital as soon as possible means saving one’s life. That is why the ambulances and evacuation vehicles are one of our top priorities,” emphasizes Ukraine’s Health Minister, Viktor Lyashko, in his address to the representatives of the international organizations.

On behalf of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – a joint effort of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress (UCC), Oksana Wynnyckyj-Yusypovych, Honorary Consul at Canadian Consulate in Lviv, Ukraine, officially handed over 11 new ambulances to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Health on February 21st.

The ambulances are unique four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser J78 off-road vehicles designed to operate in difficult conditions and have high cross-country ability. They are easy to maintain and have a large fuel tank, providing a range of 1,000 km. These new medical evacuation vehicles will safely transport wounded patients to the designated hospitals. They were assembled in Gibraltar.

Oksana Wynnyckyj-Yusypovych
Consul with the representatives of Ukraine’s MOH

“This is not the first time that Canadian-funded ambulances have been sent to Ukraine. Ukrainian Canadians have stood shoulder to shoulder with their Ukrainian brothers and sisters throughout the 9-year war and will stand until Ukraine wins,” says Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the CUF’s Board and the CUF-UCC joint Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) that manages the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal fund. On January 28, 2017, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress donated 14 ambulances to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Health.

Since February 2022, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has supported the Health Sector of Ukraine with 53 metric tons of medications delivered to 78 hospitals in the Eastern Ukraine reaching 790,500 patients, 17 dialysis machines, 20 vacuum assisted closure (VAC) machines, 330 pallets of PPE and 60 generators.

According to UNICEF estimates, by the end of 2022, a total of 17.7 million people in Ukraine were in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including 3.4 million children. Hence, our mission to provide the urgent humanitarian aid remains crucial. Thank you to our 72,000 donors across Canada who have supported our work over the past year. We are grateful to all for their continuous and steadfast support.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

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News Civil Society Humanitarian/Medical

365 days of suffering and resilience. Today marks one-year since Russia’s brutal, unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Board of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), and Alexandra Chyczij, the National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), held a press conference in Toronto reporting on the $52 million raised through the CUF-UCC joint Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and the $26 million already deployed in the essential humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

They were joined by Her Excellency, Yulia Kovaliv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, who expressed her deep gratitude for the help and support of Ukrainian people provided by Canadians over the last year, and also, by Rahul Singh, the Executive Director of GlobalMedic, one of CUF’s partners in delivering food and hygiene kits to Ukraine.

Left to right: Rahul Singh, Alexandra Chyczij, Victor Hetmanczuk, Oksana Kuzyshyn, Laryssa Waler

KEY FACTS:

  • The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal is a joint effort of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). For over a year, the two organizations have been working together to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver crucial humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians suffering in the brutal and unprovoked war.
  • Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on February 24th, 2022 – the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has raised over $52 million from 72,000 donors across Canada.
  • Primary focus of the humanitarian relief efforts was in the area of food security, medical care, and emergency shelter for displaced persons in Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries.
UCC – CUF Executives
Left to Right: Alexandra Chyczij, National President of UCC, Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Board, CUF, and Oksana Kuzyshyn, COO, CUF

Since February 2022, the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has delivered:

  • 300 thousand boxes of food providing meals to 850,000 people in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania
  • 53 MT of medicines reaching 790,500 patients
  • 161 generators for hospitals, surviving families of Ukrainian armed forces personnel killed in action, and in support of Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy
  • 2,000 stoves for cooking and heating homes in recently liberated areas
  • 2,000 wooden beds, mattresses, duvets, pillows and bedding for the displaced persons
  • 1,000 sets of firefighting gear, 10,000 gloves specialized for the first responders
  • $1.2M in psychological assistance for civilians
  • 2 surgical missions who operated on 44 patients with severe craniofacial injuries, totalling 106 procedures
  • 20 Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) machines for wound infection treatment in hospitals in Western Ukraine plus consumables
  • 11 Toyota ambulances for Ukraine’s Ministry of Health
  • 3 Humanitarian Demining Robots
  • 1,000 pallets of cleaning supplies to displaced persons
  • 330 pallets of PPE to hospitals

According to UNICEF estimates, by the end of 2022, a total of 17.7 million people in Ukraine were in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, including 3.4 million children. Currently, 5.9 million internally displaced persons are registered in Ukraine.

QUOTATIONS:

  • “Ukrainians are severely affected by Russian aggression. Russia has destroyed almost 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and most Ukrainians do not have access to basics, such as electricity, water, and heat. We are very grateful to CUF and UCC for delivering the generators with light masts for our teams of electricians, who can now efficiently repair the grid and restore the electricity, as well as the generators for hospitals and veterans’ families. More than 45,000 residential areas have been destroyed in Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of people unable to return to their homes. CUF-UCC help set up temporary shelters by supplying the necessities, beds and mattresses, food and medical supplies, as well as sponsoring psychological support programs for Ukrainians. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I want to thank you for your support and ask you to continue standing with Ukraine until our common victory”, – Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Yulia Kovaliv.
  • “The Ukrainian Canadian community has been working non-stop to support our sisters and brothers in Ukraine in their heroic defence of their homeland from Russia`s genocidal war of aggression. Our community is immensely grateful to all Canadians for their steadfast, generous support of the Ukrainian people in their time of need.” – Alexandra Chyczij, National President, Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
  • “This year, more than ever, we are grateful to those who founded Canada-Ukraine Foundation in 1995, and to all those who have built its strong foundation, nurtured the relations both, here, in Canada, and in Ukraine, and kept the organization effective and efficient, so that when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th – we were there within a few days with the first tranche of humanitarian aid. Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal became the fund of choice to all across Canada, who wanted to support the humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.” – Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Board of Directors, Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
  • This ugly war in Ukraine has displaced over 16 million people. Brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure have damaged electrical grids and knocked out water purification facilities. One in three household are food insecure. People are hungry and need clean water. I am proud of our partnership with CUF. They have rallied the community to raise awareness and funds to help vulnerable families in need. With their support we have reached families in desperate need with life-saving humanitarian assistance. This war rages on and it is getting uglier. We must redouble our efforts to keep helping families in need.” – Rahul Singh, Executive Director, GlobalMedic.
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News

CUF appoints acting CEO

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation board is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ostap Skrypnyk as the acting CEO of the Foundation.

Mr. Skrypnyk assumes the role until at least June of this year, in response to a request for leave of absence from CUF President and CEO Orest Sklierenko.

Since 1988, Skrypnyk has been active in promoting economic relations between Canada and Ukraine, developing numerous civil society and humanitarian projects in Ukraine. He has participated in numerous international election observation missions in Ukraine.

Mr. Skrypnyk is a consultant and researcher working in the nonprofit sector, government relations and community development.

“I am honoured to have been asked to oversee the good work of our Foundation,” said Mr Skrypnyk. “Under Orest Sklierenko’s leadership, we kickstarted a vital humanitarian aid hub for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Our Foundation will continue to play a critical role in humanitarian relief and in helping Ukraine rebuild after its victory.”

The CUF Board of Directors unanimously appointed Mr. Skrypnyk to the Foundation’s seniormost leadership role in an acting capacity, in the certainty he will continue its track record of excellence in delivering high-quality projects in Ukraine and here in Canada.

Categories
News Aid for Artists Community/Education

Shumka Raises over $60,000
for Canada-Ukraine Foundation Aid For Artists

EDMONTON – Ukrainian Shumka Dancers are proud to announce over $60,000 will be donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Aid for Artists raised through various events, fundraising initiatives, and Shumka on Tour. 

Since the war on Ukraine began almost one year ago, preserving and advancing Ukrainian culture is important now, more than ever. In response, throughout 2022 Shumka led several fundraising initiatives to raise funds for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Aid for Artists.

Fundraising initiatives included opportunities for audience members to donate during Shumka School of Dance concerts; the donation of concession and bar proceeds from April’s Shumka on Tour performance in Edmonton, in partnership with the Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society; a special screening of Dancing on Eggshells in partnership with Metro Cinema; proceeds from Shumka Emerge at Camrose’s Lougheed Centre; and over $36,000 from Shumka on Tour through audience donations, the sale of special merchandise and a limited-edition “Shumka Blonde” label with Sea Change Brewing. 

The designated Aid for Artists fund of the Canada Ukraine Foundation provides an outlet for the community at large to support the arts and artists of Ukraine who keep the country forward-facing, courageous and united. “Art is the soul of our people; our strength and identity. Preserving and advancing Ukrainian culture is now more important than ever,” noted Shumka Executive Director and Aid for Artists Committee Chair, Darka Tarnawsky.

The CUF Aid for Artists of Ukraine Committee aims to work with Ukrainian visual and performing artists, arts institutions, NGOs, and various levels of government culture ministries to build capability and capacity within the Ukrainian arts community in Ukraine. Through CUF-supported and sponsored programs and projects, the arts will be promoted by enabling artists, arts workers, arts organizations, arts institutions and artist advocates to improve the preservation, promotion and development of Ukrainian arts in the communities they serve. The current focus of the Committee is on raising funds and determining criteria for dissemination of such.

Shumka encourages Canadians to continue to donate and support in this time of need. For more information about the Canada-Ukraine Foundation visit cufoundation.ca. For more information about Shumka, Aid for Ukraine, and upcoming projects, visit Shumka.com. 

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine’s energy grid, hospitals, and veterans’ families receive generators from the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Generators with light masts donated to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine

Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continuously sustains severe damages from frequent Russian drone and missile attacks. Just yesterday, Russia launched 17 drones followed by 59 rockets across Ukraine, targeting its energy infrastructure. People throughout the country, yet again, endured long hours without electricity. Prolonged blackouts, heating and water shortages are the reality for Ukrainians for over 11 months now. There is a crucial need for power generators to sustain basic living conditions.

To date, Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee – a joint partnership of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) committed to providing:

  • 50 large power generators with light masts for Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy
  • 60 generators for hospitals through its partnership with NGO Initiative E+
  • 46 generators for the families of war veterans through Global Medic

Chris Brown, foreign correspondent for CBC, did a story out of Chernihiv, Ukraine, on the use of the generators with light masts that enable the continuity of power network repairs, day and night. 27 units have already been delivered and are in use; remaining 23 are en route.

Our partner organization in Ukraine, NGO Initiative E+ has started delivery of the 60 generators to the hospitals, to ensure the continuity of patient care.

With the help of another partner, Global Medic, 46 generators will be shipped and delivered to the families of the veterans over the next month.

Generators at the Global Medic wear house in Toronto about to be shipped to Ukraine (left).
One of the hospital in Ukraine that received a generator though NGO Initiative E+(right).

Today, January 27th, marks one year since the launch of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal fund and the establishment of the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee to manage it. The $22.9 million of aid and assistance delivered as of December 2022, would not have been possible without the generosity and unwavering support of our donors across Canada. Thank you for helping Ukrainians remain resilient in the face of the Russian aggression! To learn more about the work of the Committee on the numerous ongoing humanitarian relief projects, please visit our website.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

“Warm Up Ukraine” project underway

"Warm Up Ukraine" Project of "Be Free" Youth Movement is realized in partnership with Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress

2,000 heating and cooking stoves are manufactured and being distributed in partnership with “Be Free” Youth Movement to low-income families in the rural communities of Eastern Ukraine.

The full-scale military aggression by the russian federation launched on February 24, 2022 has had a significant negative impact on the Ukrainian energy sector. Energy infrastructure facilities have been among the primary targets for the russian army. As of November 24, 2022, russia occupied or damaged about 50% of Ukraine’s installed power capacity. The 2022-2023 heating season in the whole country is at high risk, as reported by the International Energy Charter.

Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) – partnership of Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), has committed $5 million over the span of four months, December’22 – March’23, to Winterization program announced in December, to help support Ukrainians in the harsh winter months during wartime. One of the Winterization projects is “Warm Up Ukraine” with “Be Free” Youth Movement.

“Be Free” is a well-established organization in the rural communities of Sumy, Zhaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Mykolayiv, and Dnipropetrovsk in Eastern Ukraine. Through “Warm Up Ukraine” project, funded by the UHRC, 2,000 wood-burning stoves are being manufactured in Ukraine and distributed to the low-income families in these rural communities that often have multiple generations sharing the same household, which further increases the importance and benefit of these heating/cooking units.

An important aspect of this project is that these stoves are made by a local business in Ukraine with raw materials also sourced within the country, which means we are not only supporting local community, we are also supporting local economy.

UHRC has committed $551,072 CDN to this project, 10% of the total allocated for Winterization. The first report showed that 456 stoves were already distributed as of December 28th, and the next 750 will be distributed by January 10th of 2023, with remainder to follow shortly.

“Be Free” Youth Movement wrote, “In the absence of electricity and heating, the stove remains the only option to cook food and keep warm, it is the only way to survive in the war.”

Together, we help provide the basics to these families facing the cruel reality.

We are grateful to all our donors for the unwavering and steadfast support of our humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine for almost a year now. You have enabled us to fund many important projects like this one and help Ukrainians remain resilient in the face of the russian aggression. To learn more about our work, please visit our website.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

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News

Canada-Ukraine Foundation the 2022 Winter Newsletter

Infolettre Fondation Canada-Ukraine

Inside This Newsletter: President/CEO Message; Reports; New Employees; Thank You!

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – Winterization projects in Ukraine.

Ukraine continues to fight against russian aggression. Under daily missile attacks and prolonged blackouts, the army is strong and regular people – resilient.

Ten months ago, Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress established a partnership – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and joint Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver crucial humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainians displaced to the neighbouring countries by war.

In the last few months, the UHR Committee allocated extra time and effort to winterization – projects that would ensure delivery of the type of aid people in Ukraine will desperately need during the harsh winter months under the continuous shelling, with no access to electricity or heat.

For the next four months, December 2022 – March 2023, the work of the UHR Committee will ensure:

  • Food security – 140,000 food boxes at 14 kg each, will feed 350,000 people. Distribution will focus on recently liberated regions.
  • Medicine & Medical supplies – 27,000 kg of medicines and hospital supplies will be delivered to 78 hospitals in Northern and Eastern oblasts.
  • Surgical missions – Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) will have its second mission in Poland before the year end to provide the surgical care to war casualties that could not be helped in Ukraine.
  • Winterization:
    • Care for the elderly – HelpAge Canada will provide all the necessary assistance to 2,300 seniors in 23 villages in Ukraine.
    • Women’s shelter support – will winterize and provide food support to Misto Dobra (City of Goodness) – women’s shelter in Chernivtsi.
    • Emergency shelter support – building and distributing 2,000 beds and mattresses to IDPs.
    • SOS Children’s Villages Canada will provide foods security, temporary shelter, non-food items and mental health support for 500 IDPs.
    • Heat – building and installing 2,000 wood burning stoves.
    • Light – Purchased 50 mobile generators with light masts for the Ministry of Energy for repair work.
  • Firefighting gear – 1,000 new sets of firefighting gear to be delivered to Ukraine’s Ministry of Emergency Services.
  • Ambulances – Purchased 11 Toyota ambulances for the Ukraine’s Ministry of Health.
  • Wound treatment – Purchased 20 Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) machines for wound infection treatment in hospitals in Western Ukraine.
  • First Aid kits – 11,000 chest seals added to 11,000 First Aid kits to upgrade them for trauma.

Please see the brief overview of the UHR Committee work in the 9 months since the full-scale invasion, as presented at the UCC XXVII Triennial Congress.

All the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine in the last 9 months and aid planned for the next 4 months, would not have been possible without your unwavering support – thank you!

As the missile strikes and people’s suffering continue across Ukraine, please consider to further support our critical mission of helping our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. You can make a donation on our website.

Background

The Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.

Categories
News

XXVII Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians

XXVII Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians took place in Winnipeg, MB, October 28 – 30 of 2022. The three days filled to the brim with compelling plenaries, engaging workshops, interesting keynote speakers, comprehensive reports on the work of member organizations of Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), meaningful discussions and resolutions that set the priorities for UCC for the next three years.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), as one of the UCC member organizations, was represented at the Triennial by its President/CEO, Orest Sklierenko, COO, Major (retired) Oksana Kuzyshyn, Chair of the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Committee, Victor Hetmanczuk, and several Directors from across Canada that serve on its Board.

On Friday, October 28th, CUF has presented its report to more than 400 delegates and guests from across Canada, talking about its history, projects prior to the major invasion, and the humanitarian relief work since.

Victor Hetmanczuk discussed in detail the emergency response CUF has provided in Ukraine since February 24th, such as delivery of food boxes, medicine and medical equipment across Ukraine, the re-initiation of Surgical Missions (CUSAP) in Poland, shipment of civil de-mining robots and firefighter equipment to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Emergency Response, and support for mental health programs for children and adults. He has also talked about the winterization projects in Ukraine that are in the works as the harsh winter is looming.

Orest Sklierenko touched on the short, mid and long term goals as the humanitarian aid CUF provides in Ukraine will continue to evolve in response to the changing needs on the ground, and reaffirmed Foundation’s mission of providing help to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine for as long as there is need. You will be able to watch the full presentation next week on our website.

Orest Sklierenko, President/CEO, CUF,
presenting at the Triennial
Orest Sklierenko, President/CEO of CUF (left) with Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress (right)

Many distinguished guests were welcomed at the Triennial, including:

  • Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada,
  • Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister,
  • Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence,
  • Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development,
  • James Bezan, MP, Selkirk Interlake Eastman, spoke on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition the Honourable Pierre Poilievre
  • The Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba,
  • Scott Gillingham, Mayor-elect of Winnipeg,
  • Her Excellency Larisa Galadza, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine
  • First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska
  • Minister of Defence Oleksiy Reznikov
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba
  • Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada

Government of Canada reaffirmed their full support for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion and announced:

  • New sanctions against Russia;
  • Will sell a 5-year Sovereignty Bonds to raise money for Ukraine;
  • Will continue supporting Ukraine with military and defence equipment.
Right Honourable Justin Trudeau,
Prime Minister of Canada
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska

This was also the time to recognize and honour the recipients of the Shevchenko Medal, the UCC National Leadership Award and the UCC National Youth Leadership Award. 

CUF’s own Victor Hetmanczuk received Shevchenko Medal for Community Development, Oksana Kuzyshyn and Katrusia Smolynec received UCC Leadership Awards – we could not be more proud and express sincere gratitude for their dedication! These awards are the testament to their selfless devotion to our Ukrainian Canadian community!

Victor Hetmanczuk and Alexandra Chyczij
Oksana Kuzyshyn and Alexandra Chyczij
Katrusia Smolynec and Alexandra Chyczij

Following the conclusion of the Triennial Congress, a delegation of the UCC visited the Taras Shevchenko Monument to pay tribute to Ukraine’s Bard.

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.

Categories
News Humanitarian/Medical

Canada Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP): First mission since russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

September 5th to 20th, a team of 30 Canadian medical professionals travelled to Czeladz, Poland to treat Ukraine’s victims of war.

Team (35 individuals) consisted of:

  • Medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Pharmacy
  • Nursing
  • Procurement/Equipment manager
  • Administration
Image is courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The primary goal of the mission was to provide complex reconstructive surgical care to victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This was an exploratory (pilot) mission to:

  • Organize and fully equip an expert multidisciplinary Canadian volunteer surgical team
  • Identify a suitable host hospital, and establish the requisite professional collaborations, processes and protocols
  • Develop and implement a method for patient referral, virtual triage, safe transport and repatriation
The host hospital: Powiatowy Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej in Czeladz, Poland // Image is courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

CUSAP is well supported by volunteers, supporters and donors. Over $1.5 million dollars of equipment and supplies were donated from major companies. Volunteers provided warehouses, physical and monetary support allowing the team to transport over 14,000 tons of medical supplies and equipment.

Logistical planning and arrangements involved multiple levels which included both Ministry of Health in Poland and Ukraine. Licensing, patient documentations and arrangements of transportation were a major focus to ensure the process ran effectively and efficiently.

Image is courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The Canadian team together completed numerous virtual patient assessments and an initial outpatient preoperative clinic (September 11, 2022) assessing 45 patients. Patients arrived to Poland in ambulances and were admitted and assessed by both the Canadian and Polish teams. Patients underwent multidisciplinary assessments and preoperative anesthesia evaluations. Where required, surgical plans were developed and operating room bookings were completed.

After 5 days of surgery over 40 extremely complex procedures were performed. The surgeries focused on the reconstruction of post traumatic or post ablative defects and deformities of the face, craniofacial skeleton, and upper and lower extremities. Etiology of the deformities varied, including military and civilians but all were war casualties.

The patients were monitored postoperatively, and provided care by the Canadian ward team consisting of highly qualified physicians and nurses. Team continued to receive daily updates on progress and recovery post-mission, and also provided necessary advice and guidance to leading (Ukrainian) physicians on care for these patients. 

Images are courtesy of Anka Wrzesnewskyj

The stories shared by the patients left a mark on the whole team. From a young soldier who was the only survivor after an attack on his brigade, to the woman who lost her home and nearly her life when a missile hit her village on a bright summer day.

The war continues and innocent lives are affected and lost every day. There are many more stories like these and so many more people in need of our help. 

The next CUSAP mission is being planned for the end of the year. Please continue supporting the casualties of this war by donating to CUSAP via Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

Background

Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established in 1995 to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.

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