M. Jakubauskienė discussed cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine on healthcare in Kyiv
On 19-20 December, Minister of Health Marija Jakubauskienė visited Kyiv, where she and other members of the Government met with Ukrainian leaders and discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in health and other areas.
The government delegation paid tribute to the memory of the Ukrainian soldiers who died in the struggle for freedom in Kyiv and met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk.
"Cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine in the field of health continues to grow. At the beginning of the war, we started by providing humanitarian aid and health services to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who found refuge in Lithuania, and today we are already introducing advanced rehabilitation services in Ukraine itself, while at the same time we are laying the foundations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Both investments and the experience of Lithuanian medical and health experts are making an increasing contribution to Ukraine's struggle for its freedom and its future," said Minister of Health M. Jakubauskienė.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), together with its subordinate institutions and hospitals, has been contributing to the provision of humanitarian aid since the beginning of the Russian invasion by sending medical supplies and equipment, medicines, personal protective equipment, and other necessities to Ukraine. The total value of humanitarian aid has already exceeded €7 million.
Wounded Ukrainian soldiers have been given the opportunity to receive rehabilitation treatment in Lithuania. Since the beginning of the war, 311 Ukrainian soldiers have received these services. Civilians who fled the war and settled in Lithuania are also provided with all necessary health care services.
In Ukraine itself, a Lithuanian-initiated programme for the rehabilitation and reintegration of wounded and war-affected persons is being implemented, to which Lithuania has contributed EUR 15 million. The funds are earmarked for the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the introduction of innovative integrated medical and mental health rehabilitation services in rehabilitation centres in Dnipro, Lviv and Zhytomyr.
As part of the implementation of the cooperation agreements, Lithuanian and Ukrainian health authorities and medical institutions exchange experience, participate in training and working groups on preparedness building, Ukraine's reconstruction, integration with the European Union and other issues.
Photos: Laima Penek
