Canada won’t leave Ukraine in time of trouble – Amb Ihor Ostash

November19200921:14

Ukraine embassy in Canada has appealed to the Ukrainian Diaspora and Canadian government to help fight the swine flue epidemic in Ukraine. Ukraine Ambassador to Canada Ihor Ostash told a ZIK correspondent about the reaction of Canadians to the Ukrainian request and the size of their aid.

– Mr. Ostash, who responded to the Ukrainian appeal and what is the amount of Canadian help?

– The Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada responded quickly and the aid program was coordinated by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. Canadians collected a large amount of medical supplies and equipment. The cost of the first tranche of aid amounts to 200,000 dollars. Canada’s airlines delivered the first tranche to Frankfurt free of charge. From Germany the aid cargo was shipped to Ukraine by trucks.

– How will the assistance be distributed?

– The first consignment will go to three addresses, to hospitals in the Lviv and Ternopil oblasts as well as to the Ministry of Health. The supplies include 150,000 protective masks and respirators, surgical instruments, disposable gloves and overalls for medical staff, syringes as well as equipment for children’s hospitals and for treating pneumonia. All this is an indispensable help to our hospitals.

– Do you know the total number of tranches?

– The second tranche of goods is to be sent to Ukraine soon. I also believe, Canadians will raise enough money to pay for the third tranche of aid.

To date, Canada has acquired extensive experience in how to deal with the swine flue. The second wave of the flue has already hit the country. It is much more serious than the first wave. We must use their experience.

– A lot of Ukrainians panicked when the flue epidemic was declared. How was it in Canada?

– Canadians are taking the news about the flue much more calmly, probably, due to the difference in mindsets. They have disinfectant solutions in all public places and wash their hands frequently, believing it to be an affective prevention means. The only thing over which Canadians are worried is vaccination. Sometimes hospitals lack the sufficient amount of vaccines. On the other hand, there is no panic as far as the medicines are concerned. Antibiotics and anti-viral drugs can be bought only on doctor’s prescriptions. Therefore, drugs, unlike Ukraine, are sold only to sick persons.

The flue statistics is very interesting: while 15 Ukrainians have died of the swine flue (population 46 million), the death toll in Canada stands at 200, indicating that Canadians are in a much worse situation than Ukrainians. Still, they are doing their best to help Ukraine.