Medical Ministry International in Ukraine

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In 2001, Medical Ministry International established a health center in Baku, Azerbaijan, and as an outreach of this Vision Care Program, Caspian Compassion Project (CCP) facilitated Medical Ministry International’s first Project Team in Ukraine in 2016. As a result of this Project Team, 50 patients received sight-saving cataract surgery and an additional 80 patients received a consultation and advice from an ophthalmologist. This project offered affordable eye care that was not locally available otherwise. To expand ministry further, Medical Ministry International Ukraine was founded legally as CF CO “Ukrainian Compassion Project in 2017.

Dr. Emil Alibeili began his ministry with Medical Ministry International Ukraine as the Co-founder and CEO of CF CO “Ukrainian Compassion Project" in 2017. Emil is originally from Azerbaijan, but lived most of his childhood in Ukraine. He achieved the Faculty of Medicine (Ophthalmology) at National Medical University under O.O. Bohomolets. He also holds a Bachelor of Law from Kyiv National University under T.H. Shevchenko, and a Master of Government Administration from the National Academy of Government Administration under the President of Ukraine, as well as a Master of Government Administration in Healthcare. 

Emil Alibeili

Emil Alibeili, MD

Tofic Teymurov

Tofic Teymurov

Tofig Teymurov is the Co-founder of Ukrainian Compassion Project and the Head of Projects. Tofig started serving with Medical Ministry International in 2001 when a Health Center was established in Baku, Azerbaijan. Tofig shares his time in Ukraine and Azerbaijan as he continues to provide oversight for the Health Center in Baku.

Collaboration with New Zir Clinics

The administrators of the private medical center "New Zir" agreed to provide MMI Ukraine use of their operating room facilities to accommodate cataract surgeries for those with limited ability to pay for ophthalmology services.

The MMI Ukraine team facilitates local initiatives (without North American participants) to provide vision services and screen for cataract patients. Logistics are then organized to bring patients to Kyiv or Odessa where New Zir hosts surgery days. Screening programs in Odessa are run with the support of multiple Rotary Clubs in the region.

Prior to the pandemic, MMI Ukraine was serving approximately 3,000 patients per year, including 325 cataract surgeries, with a total value of services of $1.48 million.  In 2020 and 2021, services were reduced due to lockdowns. However, the team was still active and in 2021 they served 704 patients, including 129 cataract surgeries, with a total value of services of $705,000.

100 Eyes Program

 In 2018, MMI Ukraine launched the program ‘100 Eyes’ to provide cataract services to 100 veterans of the Donbass conflict zone who had suffered traumatic cataracts. Pictured above are 9 of the veterans who have received surgery through the program with Dr. Emil and Tofig. A local Ukrainian news outlet covered the story and the video is below. Screenings and surgeries are ongoing.

Program Site:

Kyiv


Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population in July 2013 was 2,847,200, making Kyiv the 8th most populous city in Europe. Kyiv is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural centre of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions and world-famous historical landmarks. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including the Kyiv Metro.

* Project Description:
Preforming cataract surgeries, guiding local young eye doctors during consultations, sharing experiences and conducting classes with local doctors. Teams work in the Medical Center called “New Zir", a great facility which opened in 2004. http://www.zir.com.ua/eng

Elevation
179m (587 ft)

Climate
The months May, June, July and August have nice weather with a good average temperature.
Average min and max temperatures in Kiev, Ukraine

Travelling on a Project

Entry & Exit Requirements


It is the sole prerogative of every country or territory to determine who is allowed to enter or exit. Canadian consular officials cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet entry or exit requirements. Travellers must present a passport to visit Ukraine, which must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of expected departure from that country.

• Americans: Please check the following website for the most current entry/exit requirements:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/ukraine

• Canadians: Please check the following website for the most current entry/exit requirements:
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ukraine

• International: Please contact MMI office or Key Travel (formerly Raptim Humanitarian Travel) for visa requirement if needed.

Application Requirements


Please email ALL CREDENTIALS upon application, as these must go to the Project Director in the country to be translated and then taken to the Ministry of Health to get temporary licenses prior to your arrival.

• For everyone, we need:
- Colour Scan / Photocopy of Passport (photo page)
- Colour photo for your name badge (any good photo, we can adjust size)
- Travel Itinerary
- Supply Lists

• Medical Professionals, we also need your:
- Current License (through time of project)
- Diploma (Techs, Nursing, Dental, MD and Board Certifications)
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume (this also will help the Project Director know your skills & experience to assign you a task on the project, especially for 1st time participants)

• Health Care Students: Letter of Good Standing from your school (including year of study and graduation date).

• All MINORS travelling with only one parent, or without their parents, will need a letter from BOTH parents stating that it is OK for the child to travel with one parent or an appointed guardian. The letter should be signed and notarized. MMI needs a copy of this letter, and the parent or guardian should carry the original letter while travelling.

Travel


Airfare is not included on the Project Schedule because the costs for airfare vary significantly based on the country location, location of team members, and time of year.

Once accepted for a Project Team, participants can contact our designated travel agent to coordinate schedules with the team itinerary.

Globespan Travel Management www.globespan.com
Email: Globespan on behalf of Medical Ministry International mmitravel@globespan.com
Phone: Connie Kelsey at: (800) 810-1948 or (416) 322-7629

• Applicants from outside USA or Canada:
Travel arrangement can be procured locally or with the recommended agency, but arrivals & departures must coordinate with team.

• Airport: Boryspil International Airport (KBP) Boryspil, Ukraine

Immunizations


We strongly recommend that you consult a travel clinic, as they are aware of outbreaks and can suggest preventative immunizations. All routine immunizations should be up-to-date. Please check the following website for the most current information.

• Americans: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/ukraine

• Canadians: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ukraine

Accommodations and Meals


MMI will arrange local accommodations for the team.
• Laundry Service: usually available for additional fee
• AC: dependent on location
• Phone Service: check with your cell phone provider, roaming is very expensive.
• Wifi/Internet: yes
• Voltage: 220V (converter or adaptor required)
• Meals: MMI will provide meals for the team. Dietary restrictions can be indicated on your application and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Be sure to bring your own re-usable water bottle with a wide mouth for refilling. Purified water is supplied. If you would like to bring snacks to have throughout the day, please bring items such as peanut butter, granola bars, trail mix or pretzels and crackers in sealable containers (like Ziploc bags).

Culture

• Language: Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, and other 2.9%
• Religion: Orthodox (includes Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox (UAOC), Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish
• Government: Semi-presidential Republic

Currency


The money used in Ukraine is called the hryvnia (UAH). US dollars or Euros can be exchanged for UAH. MMI staff will help you exchange money. All major credit cards are accepted - Visa and MasterCard the most widely accepted (make sure to call your credit card company and let them know that you’ll be traveling internationally). Traveler’s cheques are not easily cashed. You must bring US dollars in good condition. Torn, stamped or old bills will not be exchanged. $100 bills older than 2006 are also not accepted.

 
Dr John Wilkinson with patient

Dr John Wilkinson with patient

 

About Ukraine

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea coastline and forested mountains. Its capital, Kyiv, features the gold-domed St. Sophia's Cathedral, with 11th-century mosaics and frescoes. Overlooking the Dnieper River is the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a Christian pilgrimage site housing Scythian tomb relics and catacombs containing mummified Orthodox monks. Ukraine has a shared culture and history with neighboring nations dating back to the 9th century and the Land of Rus. Mutual customs are shared among the cultures of Ukraine, Belarus, Ukrainian Cossacks, and Russians. Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced by the Eastern Orthodox Church and traditions from Slavic mythology. Ukraine is famous for agricultural production such as sunflower and wheat. It is known as the 'Bread basket' of Europe. The diversified economy of Ukraine includes a large heavy industry sector, particularly in aerospace and industrial equipment.

LOCATION:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:

49 00 N, 32 00 E

MAP REFERENCES:

Asia, Europe

TOTAL AREA:

603,628 km²

BORDER COUNTRIES:

Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia

COASTLINE:

2,782 km

MARITIME CLAIMS:

12 nautical miles

TERRAIN:

Mostly fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains found only in the west (the Carpathians) or in the extreme south of the Crimean Peninsula

CLIMATE:

Temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

ELEVATION EXTREMES

LOWEST POINT:

Black Sea - 0 m

HIGHEST POINT:

Hora Hoverla - 2,061 m

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