UNICEF project helps to save human lives in the North Caucasus
The life of a human being, and the particularly fragile life of a newly-born baby, can depend on things such as electricity, clean water and well-functioning medical equipment. Many medical facilities in the North Caucasus still lack equipment needed to perform more complex surgery. This is why UNICEF, with funding from the EU, procured various medical and laboratory equipment for anesthesiology/intensive care and neonatology units at two hospitals in the Chechen Republic: the Children’s Republican Clinical Hospital and Maternity Ward #2 in Grozny. EU/UNICEF’s project improves the quality of health care services provided in the North Caucasus, but it also helps doctors to save human lives. Larisa, 42 years old was admitted to Maternity Ward #2 in Grozny in February 2008. She had high-risk a pregnancy that could result in death both for herself and her child. Larisa was pregnant with her fourth child and she lost too much blood during caesarian section. It was only thanks to doctors at the maternity ward and the high-quality equipment provided by UNICEF (an anesthesia apparatus, an artificial respiration unit, a monitor, oxygenerator and an electric suction machine) that they managed to save the woman’s and the baby’s lives. Both Larisa and her perfectly healthy daughter were discharged from the maternity hospital on March 8, the International Women’s Day. “We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to EU and UNICEF for all that they have done. We have lots of patients suffering from various pathologies and neglected diseases that put their pregnancy at risk. Unfortunately, the Chechen Republic still lacks the infrastructure that would allow women to undergo medical examination regularly and avoid potential complications during their pregnancy”, says Nebi Nalayeva, head of the anesthesiology/intensive care unit at maternity ward #2. This project was launched by EU and UNICEF in September 2006 and will run till February 2009. The project component aimed to improve healthcare in the Chechen Republic and the Republic of Ingushetia was allocated 4.5 million euros. In addition to the two Chechen hospital, the project beneficiaries include 50 medical stations at schools in the Republic of Ingushetia where several school dental clinics are also scheduled for opening this year. For more information, please, contact Zalina Ikoyeva, Communication Assistant, UNICEF North Caucasus, tel. +7 928 732 00 71, e-mail: zikoyeva@unicef.org
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