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20 September 2008 16:47

Kateryna Yushchenko Takes Part in the Organizing the Fight against Blindness and Weak Sight in Children Training for the Crimean Ophthalmologists

September 20, 2008, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation Kateryna Yushchenko took part in the Organizing the Fight against Blindness and Weak Sight in Children scientific and practical training for the Crimean ophthalmologists. The training was held at the Kichkine resort in Haspra village (the Greater Yalta) with the participation of Head Ophthalmologist with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Serhiy Rykov, Head Ophthalmologist of the Crimea Liubov Yarysheva, Head of the Ophthalmology Chair of the Crimean Medical University Nana Ivanova, and over 50 ophthalmologists from various parts of the Crimea.

Mrs. Yushchenko thanked the ophthalmologists for their dedication and high professionalism. “The Ukrainian ophthalmology is advanced in the world,” she said.

Mrs. Kateryna described to the audience the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation’s programs and projects in the area of medicine. She spoke in more detail about the initiatives, aimed at helping people with impaired eyesight, in part, the cooperation with the Children’s Ophthalmologists’ Association of Ukraine, due to which the children’s ophthalmology unit is operating at the OKHMATDIT specialized hospital.

Mrs. Yushchenko also broached the subject of equal access to education, culture, and medicine for people with limited abilities, which has long been discussed throughout the world. “We are certain that, only having done everything possible to let every child obtain education, a profession, and access to high-quality medical services, can a country consider itself civilized,” she said.

Mrs. Yushchenko emphasized the need for systemic approach to solving the problems of people with special needs, quoting as an example the Ukraine 3000 Foundation’s and TNK-BP Commerce’s joint program, Joy of the Childhood: Free Movements, aimed at helping children with cerebral palsy. She said that creating similar programs for children with impaired eyesight and hearing is on the agenda.

On behalf of the Children’s Ophthalmologists’ Association Mr. Rykov awarded Mrs. Yushchenko with the Nadiya Pilman medal For Attainments in Children’s Ophthalmology. Mrs. Yushchenko, in her turn, gave the Association an icon of Jesus Christ.

Mrs. Kateryna also took part in the ceremony awarding merited ophthalmologists of the Crimea for their attainments in children’s ophthalmology. The Nadiya Pilman awards and diplomas were given to Irayida Yemelyanova, Liudmyla Rudenko, and Yevheniya Shapovalova.

The For Attainments in Children’s Ophthalmology medal was founded in 2007 by the Children’s Ophthalmologists’ Association of Ukraine all-Ukrainian public organization on the occasion of the 110th birth anniversary of outstanding Ukrainian ophthalmologist Nadiya Pilman.

Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko is staying in the Crimea for a working visit. She is taking part in the Artek Dialogs Annual Educational Forum, which started September 18, 2008. September 19, Mrs. Yushchenko took part in the Equal Access to Higher Education: the Challenge of the Third Millennium plenary session, met with the Forum’s most active participants, and attended the Quality Education for Children and Young People with Limited Abilities and Coming from Disadvantaged Families session.