Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi came to Vinnytsia on March 20. He delivered to the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Central Region a new computer tomography scanner of the experimental class worth over 530,000 dollars and an endoscopic unit worth 130,000 dollars. The expensive equipment was paid for by charitable funds raised by Japanese citizens as part of project support for UNOPS.
“The government of Ukraine needed support in purchasing medical equipment for hospitals subordinate to the Ministry of Defense. Therefore, we held talks with the government of Japan, inquiring if it was possible to provide modern medical equipment to Ukraine,” Ambassador Sumi said. “Past year, Japan provided medical assistance worth 4 million dollars. However, we realized then that this was not enough, because the equipment of military hospitals needed modernization. Due to it, the government of Japan allocated a huge sum of 2.5 million dollars which were spent on medical equipment specifically for military medical institutions. Besides Vinnytsia, endoscopic equipment systems and computer tomography scanners have been received by hospitals in Kyiv and Kharkiv. I hope the new equipment will work not only for treatment, but also for prevention of diseases among Ukrainian soldiers.”
The old computer tomography scanner of the Vinnytsia Military Hospital broke down a few years ago. It made the center unable to conduct examinations and forced it to send patients to partner healthcare institutions. Therefore, the gift was welcome and timelier than ever.
“The new computer tomography scanner will not only speed up our procedures, but also increase the number of examinations, as we plan to admit up to 140 patients in an average month,” explained the hospital’s chief medical officer, Colonel of Medical Service Ihor Melnyk.
Besides the computer tomography scanner, the Japanese ambassador presented to the military hospital a certificate allowing it to use the endoscopic diagnostic system. It also will speed up examinations, enabling the hospital to admit 15 percent more patients than before, and most importantly, will help diagnose cancer early.
At the end of his visit, Ambassador Sumi presented an unusual gift to the city, as he handed over to Vinnytsia’s leaders a certificate for planting sakuras, supported by funds to pay for 80 Japanese trees. The city plans to plant them near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident 10th Anniversary Memorial, while another 160 seedlings will adorn the streets of Vinnytsia.
