International cooperation. Vinnytsia Hospitals Receive Large Humanitarian Cargo from Twin City of Nancy

The humanitarian aid from Nancy arrived in Vinnytsia in two lorries. The medical equipment was received at the Humanitarian Hub established by Vinnytsia City Council and the Podilska Hromada community foundation at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Subsequently, the humanitarian aid was handed over to healthcare facilities in Vinnytsia under the relevant official letters and transfer and acceptance certificates.

‘Our sister city of Nancy delivered two trucks of humanitarian aid to us. Olivier Babel, who is an active volunteer from Nancy, also came personally. It was he who united the efforts of the Nancy community to collect and deliver this aid to Vinnytsia. It is mainly intended for hospitals. But there is also a cargo that will be handed over to the children of Balakliya in the near future,’ said Deputy Mayor Vladyslav Skalskyy.

The French collected humanitarian aid for three months.

‘In May 2023, we came to Ukraine for the first time, first to Lviv and then to Vinnytsia. Our cities are twin cities - Nancy and Vinnytsia. We are very pleased that you are welcoming us in Vinnytsia. Our association has collected a lot of help, and the city of Nancy and the cities surrounding Nancy have joined in. The mayor's office joined the association to help collect as much as possible. We are happy that we can do something to help Ukraine and Ukrainians and, of course, the city of Vinnytsia,’ said Olivier Babel, a volunteer from France.

Among the items received were medicines, parenteral nutrition, consumables, saline solutions, means for administering medicines, and many medicines: painkillers and antibiotics. In addition, there are wheelchairs, medical chairs, laser equipment for ophthalmology.

‘This is the third time that Vinnytsia's medical facilities have received assistance from partners from France as part of the inter-municipal cooperation established between the cities of Vinnytsia and Nancy. This time we have received a very large amount of humanitarian aid - two large lorries. All the funds we received were distributed to the institutions where they will be of the greatest benefit. We understand that this is a huge contribution from our French partners. Many of those who collected the aid are not only French, but also Ukrainian emigrants who want to help their countrymen,’ said Nataliia Korobchynska, Deputy Director of the Health Department of the City Council, Head of the Strategic Planning and Health Development Division.

The aid was sent to 10 healthcare facilities in the city: City Clinical Hospitals No. 1 and No. 3, the City Emergency Hospital, the Mother and Child Centre, the Regional Centre for Cardiovascular Pathology, Primary Health Care Centres No. 2, 3 and 4, the City Diagnostic and Treatment Centre and the Dental Centre.

‘It is important to receive assistance from foreign partners at such a difficult time for Ukraine. We are grateful that our friends from Nancy have been supporting us for many years. They are aware of our needs. We have received very important assistance, including care products, which are always needed because they are used in large quantities. In addition, we also received medicines that will benefit our patients as soon as possible,’ says Konstiantin Livakovskyi, director of City Hospital No. 1.

During their visit, the French guests visited four medical institutions in Vinnytsia and talked to doctors and patients.

‘We admire what Vinnytsia hospitals are doing in the face of war. We are also impressed by the fact that the humanitarian aid was distributed very quickly according to the specific needs of the hospitals themselves. This is very important. We see that our help is being used so effectively. It inspires us to keep working and help further,’ Olivier Babel shared his impressions.