Estate of Sylvia Blake

A shining example of generosity and humanitarian effort is that of Sylvia Blake, a woman who loved her fellow man and never forgot her roots. She died on Sept. 25, 2002 in Michigan, but her memory lives on. She left a considerable portion of her assets specifically earmarked for a special project to aid children's hospitals in Ukraine. Ms. Blake had visited Ukraine in 1971 and had seen the abysmal conditions in the hospitals and was determined to make a difference. She made a specific bequest allowing UUARC, an organization that she remembered had helped Ukrainian immigrants resettle in the US in the 1940's, to administer the program. The Executor of the Estate asked UUARC to submit a detailed proposal for a specific program which would most benefit ill children in Ukraine. With the help of the two UUARC directors in Lviv and Kyiv, 14 hospitals were targeted for this project and a grant application was submitted.

Needs were ascertained, bids were obtained and evaluated, hospital directors were consulted and an in-depth investigation began into the procedures that would be required to turn Sylvia Blake's dream into reality. Information from all sources led to the decision that the ambulances would be the most immediately useful and the most crucially needed items. The Head of the Department of Children's Medical Facilities of the Ministry of Health, Ms. Raissa Mojsejenko was consulted, and suggested that we consider assisting the more rural and less-equipped areas of Ukraine. The question arose whether some of the more rural areas would require a more powerful vehicle to accommodate the dismal road conditions. The Directors of the Hospitals were polled regarding the interior outfitting of these ambulances, as there were two options - more complex technology built-in and simpler interiors with portable diagnostic and support technology. All of the doctors opted for the second interior option, and all but two required the heavier-terrain vehicle. Ms. Vera Prinko, the Director of UUARC's Kyiv office, next began researching potential sources for the ambulances. The general consensus was that Ukraine would maximally benefit from Ms. Blake's legacy if we purchased Ukrainian-made vehicles, thereby also supporting the economy, and so the two in-country manufacturers of ambulances were approached. Final comparisons and negotiations led to a contract for 14 ambulances, 12 "UAZ" heavy-duty, and two "HAZ" regular vehicles, with "HAZ-Dnipro", which offered the best prices, most beneficial discounts and best extended service plan. The vehicles were purchased from regional distributors for ease of delivery and servicing. The final cost of the 14 ambulances was $73,585.00. The ambulances were delivered in January and February 2003. The recipients were as follows:

• Dolynska Likarnya - in the City of Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk Obl
• Nadviryanska Dytyacha Likarnya - City of Nadvirna, Ivano-Frankivsk Obl
• Drohobyckyj Polohovyj Budynok - City of Drohobych, Lviv Obl
• Lysecka Likarnya - town of Lysec, Ivano-Frankivska Obl.
• Krasnodonska Dytyacha Likarnya - City of Krasnodon, Luhanska Obl
• Novoodeska Likarnya, City of Nova Odessa< Mykolayivska Obl.
• Tyvrivska Rajonna Likarnya, Town of Tyvriv, Vinnycka Obl.
• Artemivska Rajonna Likarnya - town of Artymivsk, Donetska Obl.
• Turijska Rajonna Likarnya- City of Turijsk, Volynska Obl.
• Dytyacha Oblasna Likarnya, City of Sumy, Sumska Obl.
• Volodarska Rajonna Likarnya - Town of Volodarka, Kyivska Obl.
• Skvyrska Centralna Likarnya, City of Skvyra, Kyivska Obl.
• Luckyj Polohovyj Budynok, - City of Luck, Volynska Obl.
• Iziumskya Centralna Rajonna Likarnya, City of Iziuma, Kharkivska Obl.

Added later

• Seredno-Budska Centralna Rajonna Likarnya, Sumska Obl.

The hospitals reacted with gratitude and disbelief at their good fortune - the local press wrote many articles honoring Sylvia Blake and her humanitarian gesture, and several hospitals have even put up plaques and photographs remembering Sylvia Blake. The Hospital Director of the Sumy Hospital said that since independence their oblast has gotten less than $40,000 in foreign humanitarian aid, and they were thrilled to be included in the project.

The Blake Project Proposal, included, in addition to the ambulances, necessary equipment for pediatric care, from portable incubators, to pediatric respirators and small-scale surgical and support equipment. Each of the 14 selected hospitals will receive the necessary upgrades to service their patients. The ordering of the Medical Equipment for the individual hospitals will commence as we are informed that the repairs and rehabilitation for the facilities are nearing completion by the Ministry of Health.

In much of Ukraine, the child illness and mortality rate is very high, with children suffering from chronic respiratory disease, high rates of cancer and, currently, an outbreak of tuberculosis, not to mention HIV-AIDS. The most cost-effective method of improving the medical care of the greatest number of patients would be by providing the Rayonni Likarni (Regional Clinics) and smaller, village centers with standardized Medical Equipment Packets. UUARC has been concurrently working on finalizing deals with the manufacturers of the equipment for the Medical Packets, which are the Third Phase of the Project. We anticipate the orders for the individual pieces to be placed in the summer of 2003 and the assembly of the Packets to be finalized this Fall.