The Canadian Government has once again supported the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense medical corps by providing them with a brand new mobile field hospital shelter system. The transfer ceremony took a place at the 169th “Desna” Training Centre of the Ukrainian Land Forces in the Chernihiv oblast on July 20th.
This mobile field hospital is a durable, transportable structure that comes equipped with 20 beds, power generators, a heating, cooling, and ventilation system, and a water purification unit. The structure will be primarily used for surgeries and other procedures that require a sanitary and safe environment in areas affected by the conflict in the Donbas.
According to Roman Washchuk, the Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine, the mobile hospital has the latest Canadian technologies and is fully compatible with Ukrainian equipment.
“The hospital may be set up in six hours and disassembled in four hours. It’s a highly mobile hospital suitable for use in any conditions. I present this equipment and I know it will save hundreds, maybe, thousands of lives,” he underlined during the presentation ceremony.
“The Ukrainian army urgently needs this mobile hospital. It meets the military medical requirements in the context of the reforms within the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” remarked Mr. Ihor Dolgov the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine responsible for European integration. He stressed the importance of the Canadian contribution in the victory of the Ukrainian people.
Col. Andriy Verba, Director of the Military Medical Department, remarked that the hospital will be sent to the Luhansk oblast and used as the 59th military mobile hospital. “It will replace our mobile hospital in the region,” he noted.
“This hospital is multifunctional and segmented; it may be used as а surgery room near the battlefield or for rendering first aid care before evacuation. It is fully autonomous. It’s equipped with diesel generators and a Rainfresh water filter system,” he said.
According to Ukrainian military medics, the air conditioning system will be a key advantage of this field hospital. Air cooling in summer and air heating in winter will help during surgeries, as well as during the postoperative period said Lieut. Col. Alexander Moskaluk, a surgeon from the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Central Region.
In his statement regarding the delivery of the mobile field hospital to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Rob Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that it was part of the Government of Canada’s $11-million assistance package for non-lethal equipment announced in November 2014 and is only one example of Canada’s continued support to Ukraine.
“It is our hope that this hospital will help save lives and provide much-needed relief in light of the brutal violence. We continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s continued military aggression, and we commend the bravery of the Ukrainian people as they work toward a stable and unified country,” concluded Mr. Nicholson in his statement.
In the framework of its overall assistance program, Ottawa is set to provide a new training package to the Ukrainian Armed Forces later this year.
According to Mr. Washchuk, from September 2015 until March 2017 instructors from the Canadian Armed Forces will train Ukrainian soldiers at Yavoriv, Lviv oblast and in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnitskyj oblast. Focusing on tactical soldier training, the CAF training will include explosive ordinance disposal and improvised explosive device disposal, military policing, medical treatment, flight safety, as well as logistics system modernization.
Since the start of the Ukrainian crisis in early 2014 Canada has donated non-lethal military supplies, including a range of targeted protection, medical, and logistical equipment. The field hospital is only the most recent aid that has come from Canada and it certainly will not be the last.
Larysa Zariczniak
According to Roman Washchuk, the Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine, the mobile hospital has the latest Canadian technologies and is fully compatible with Ukrainian equipment.
Col. Andriy Verba, Director of the Military Medical Department, remarked that the hospital will be sent to the Luhansk oblast and used as the 59th military mobile hospital. “It will replace our mobile hospital in the region,” he noted.
“It is our hope that this hospital will help save lives and provide much-needed relief in light of the brutal violence. We continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s continued military aggression, and we commend the bravery of the Ukrainian people as they work toward a stable and unified country,” concluded Mr. Nicholson in his statement.
