The vehicles were transferred as humanitarian aid from the WHO with the support of the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
A total of 33 vehicles arrived in Ukraine. Of these, 20 are A1-type vehicles designed to transport non-critical patients. And another 13 C-type resuscitation vehicles equipped with lung ventilators, infusion pumps and other equipment to provide first aid to patients in the most difficult conditions.
“I would like to thank our partners for their reliable support. Despite all the circumstances, we are working together to provide Ukrainians with high-quality, affordable and free medical care. In the near future, these ambulances will be sent to the regions where they are most needed and will help our heroic medics save lives,” said Health Minister Viktor Liashko during the handover ceremony.
The majority of the vehicles will be delivered to the east of Ukraine, to emergency medical care and disaster medicine centers operating in the frontline regions.
According to the Minister of Health, since the beginning of the full-scale war, russia has already damaged 103 ambulances, destroyed another 250 vehicles and seized at least 125. Therefore, each ambulance donated by international partners is a significant contribution to saving lives and health of Ukrainians.
“One of our top priorities is to support the Ukrainian healthcare system, which has been under extreme pressure since the beginning of the war. We are working with partners such as WHO to provide medics with the means and equipment to reach people in urgent need of medical care. These ambulances will save lives across the country, including in hard-to-reach areas,” said Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.
“The purpose of this donation is to continue to strengthen the speed and quality of medical services provided by the national emergency medical services. These vehicles will help further strengthen the capacity of Ukraine’s healthcare system and allow for a more proactive response to challenges and emergencies,” explains Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, WHO and its partners have donated 56 ambulances that are already operating in different regions of Ukraine. (Government portal/Business World Magazine)