Child Relief
The health service in Ukraine is in principle free of charge. However in many cases financial settlement is required for instance for special medication. The quality of medical care in Ukraine is not comparable with what we regard to be normal in Western Europe. When a child is facing significant medical problems then it either needs to be treated at Kiev or across the EU border in Eastern Hungary. Treatment at Kiev implies a trip of 700 km by train, while the parents (or supervisors) need to have accommodation in Kiev often for several weeks. In case of treatment in Eastern Hungary (approx 100 km from home) treatment is not free of charge as nearly none of the Ukrainians is insured for medical care abroad.
Since its founding in 2003 Foundation Oekroe is providing support to children and youngsters with a life treathening disease or with a congenital disability who otherwise would not get proper aide and would need to continue suffering with their illness or disability. That's not easy, certainly not in a country like Ukraine. Below you will find an overview of the support provided by Oekroe during the last two years.
André (from Natsja). André was born October 2003 with significant congenital deformities of arms and legs. Due to this the father left mother and child. Since 6 weeks after his birth Foundation Oekroe is taking care of the costs for his daily physical therapy (and still is doing so!) and has paid for his operations in Kiev. André is the first child in Ukraine with this ailment who could walk and is able go to school. André turns out to be very intelligent. [Oekroe project code: 2003.02]
Andras. A boy born in 1997. Has problems with his intestines. Received in the mean two times surgery financed by Oekroe. He is progressing slowly. [Oekroe project code: 2008.03]
Victoria. A girl born in 1996. Is almost deaf. Has got hearing aide equipment by which she can hear a lot better. Things go well with Victoria. Also her results at school have progressed considerably. Project finished. [Oekroe project code: 2008.06]
André. Boy born in 1998. Has bump on his forehead. The diagnosis appears to be the vitiligo. Besides suporting André Oekroe also supports the family of 6 people he's part of in the form of a food package until 1 November 2011. [Oekroe project code: 2008.07]
Anita. Girl born in 2002. Will most likely get surgery during the summer of 2010 for her "inguinal hernia". It goes very well. Anita was at Camp Ukraine 2010! Project finished. [Oekroe project code: 2008.08]
Janos. A young man born in 1986. Has bone cancer. Has had chemo therapy. In accordance to his fellow villagers it goes very well with Janos. Project finished. [Oekroe project code: 2009.01]
Diana-Dorina. Girl born in 2003. Has arm and leg defects. The results of physical therapie are good. Diana will continuously need care, however for Foundation Oekroe this project is finished. [Oekroe project code: 2009.02]
Barbara. Girl born in 2008 (refer to photo bottom left). The position of her feet was completely wrong. In the mean time she has been operated on her ankles in Hungary. The operation was a success and it goes well with her. Barbara has started walking! [Oekroe project code: 2009.03]
Sandra. Sandra, young lady born in 1993 (photo). Had lymphoma. Has undergone chemo therapy with good results as the tumor has disappeared. We ran into her during our trips of November 2010 and November 2011. [Oekroe project code: 2009.04]
Viktor. Young man born in in 1981. Had a very serious car accident in 2003, broke his back and badly damaged his spinal cord. Is paralyzed from his chest down. The last few years he can move himself around in a wheelchair. Has learnt a lot during two rehabilitation camps which lasted 6 weeks each. He intends to supervise peers and show them they could have descent lives despite their disabilities! Victor lives at home with his parents. [Oekroe project code: 2009.05]
Pattrick. Born in 2002. Has been operated in February 2010 for a tumor in his back. Is completely recovered! He now uses only some vitamins. His professor in Kiev said: "Good to you were so early for your treatment". [Oekroe project code: 2010.01]
Romeo † born May 2010 had Down syndrome as well as a few small holes in his heart. Romeo got heart surgery November the 23rd 2010 at Kiev and unfortunately died the night after. Foundation Oekroe takes care of the costs the parents have incurred during Romeo's treatment at Kiev. [Oekroe project code: 2010.06]
Viktoria (photo) is born with “water on the brain” (Hydrocephalus). She is raised by her granny. Her mother left her behind together with 3 other kids. As such it goes well with Viktoria. However she needs to undergo surgery every few years. Recently she got her third operation when a new internal tube has been put in place to get the brain fluid into her stomach. Due to the operations granny’s debt has increased to 600 euro’s (equivalent of 6 month salary). Foundation Oekroe has paid this debt. [Oekroe project code: 2011.01]
Richard was born healthy. Due to an injection he got an handicap. He walks with difficulty while there is also something with his arms. Foundation Oekroe pays the travel costs for him and his helper to an adjacent city where he will get orthopedic shoes (which as such are free of charge). [Oekroe project code: 2011.02]
Last update: 8 December 2011