This week, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) delivered 100 “Thornhill Medical” integrated life-support systems, MOVES® SLC™, to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to be used in land and air transport of critically injured patients as well as other critical care environments.
The life-support systems were donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation by the Government of Canada. Thornhill Medical is contributing casualty care training and other medical equipment. CUF is adding on ventilator cartridges, which are in low supply in Ukraine and are essential for the MOVES® SLC™ to function properly.
Delivery of the 100 MOVES® SLC™ is the largest deployment of this life-saving technology since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. MOVES® SLC™, which is a micro-integrated life support system designed for the provision of medical care in conflict and disaster-stricken zones, is already in use across Ukraine. Nicknamed “the medical Javelin” by Ukraine’s government and front-line healthcare providers, the technology is being used to support patients in hospitals, in forward surgical situations, on ambulances and evacuation medical trains. Now, there will be even more units to save lives.
“We are honoured to receive this very generous donation from the Government of Canada and direct it to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health,” said Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the CUF Board. “Delivery of this one-of-a-kind medical technology from Thornhill Medical will respond to the urgent requests from Ukraine’s healthcare and government officials and, more importantly, these 100 life-support systems will save lives of many critically injured Ukrainians.”
“Thornhill Medical is pleased to support the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s efforts to help Ukraine’s front-line medical providers, as they face ever-growing number of civilian casualties with life-threatening injuries,” said Lesley Gouldie, President and CEO of Thornhill Medical. “It is imperative that NGOs, international governments and organizations continue to come together to provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid.”
On August 2nd, Sean Boyd, Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Canada to Ukraine officially handed these units over to Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine.
“The Government of Canada has been working with the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to provide Ukraine with more portable life support systems. We were glad to hear that the first systems we sent, were vital in ambulances and other transportation evacuating the injured and helped save many lives. Now, Ukraine’s First Responders will have another 100 units of this equipment,” said Sean Boyd, Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Canada to Ukraine. “We admire the courage and resilience of Ukrainian doctors, nurses and combat medics. Let these portable life support units help them in their heroic and important work saving lives of Ukrainian patients.”
“Every day since the full-scale invasion (on February 24th, 2022), Ukrainian doctors, like every Ukrainian, have been living and working under the enemy’s attack. (Russian) missiles continuously target and destroy (Ukraine’s) medical infrastructure and civilian objects – the injured and wounded need urgent medical care, especially, during the evacuation and transportation from the site of the attack to the hospital,” said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine. “The portable life support systems received by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine from the Government of Canada, delivered by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, will be sent to stabilization centers and emergency and disaster response teams. We highly appreciate the support of our international partners and their assistance on the “medical front.” Portable life support systems will help monitor patients’ vital signs, provide artificial lung ventilation to those in critical condition, and prevent complications during transportation to hospitals.”
Background
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is a national charitable foundation established in 1995 at the 18th Ukrainian Canadian Congress to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects by Canadians directed to Ukraine and other organizations in Canada. For more information: www.cufoundation.ca
Thornhill Medical’s ground-breaking products are designed to be used globally by emergency health care providers, humanitarian, and military medical teams. Thornhill’s oxygen-focused research and commercial technologies are transforming patient care in humanitarian and military environments, while inspiring and enabling other new technologies to unlock vital life-saving solutions. Thornhill Medical’s innovations are in 19+ countries including in Ukraine. With a team committed to courage, collaboration and saving lives, Thornhill Medical leads the way in the nimble and precision-focused field of medical technologies. For more information: www.thornhillmedical.com