Medical Ministry International in Ukraine
In 2001, Medical Ministry International established a health center in Baku, Azerbaijan, and as an outreach of this Vision Care Program, Caspian Compassion Project (CCP) facilitated Medical Ministry International’s first Project Team in Ukraine in 2016. As a result of this Project Team, 50 patients received sight-saving cataract surgery and an additional 80 patients received a consultation and advice from an ophthalmologist. This project offered affordable eye care that was not locally available otherwise. To expand ministry further, Medical Ministry International Ukraine was founded legally as CF CO “Ukrainian Compassion Project in 2017.
Dr. Emil Alibeili began his ministry with Medical Ministry International Ukraine as the Co-founder and CEO of CF CO “Ukrainian Compassion Project" in 2017. Emil is originally from Azerbaijan, but lived most of his childhood in Ukraine. He achieved the Faculty of Medicine (Ophthalmology) at National Medical University under O.O. Bohomolets. He also holds a Bachelor of Law from Kyiv National University under T.H. Shevchenko, and a Master of Government Administration from the National Academy of Government Administration under the President of Ukraine, as well as a Master of Government Administration in Healthcare.
Emil Alibeili, MD
Tofic Teymurov
Tofig Teymurov is the Co-founder of Ukrainian Compassion Project and the Head of Projects. Tofig started serving with Medical Ministry International in 2001 when a Health Center was established in Baku, Azerbaijan. Tofig shares his time in Ukraine and Azerbaijan as he continues to provide oversight for the Health Center in Baku.
Collaboration with New Zir Clinics
The administrators of the private medical center "New Zir" agreed to provide MMI Ukraine use of their operating room facilities to accommodate cataract surgeries for those with limited ability to pay for ophthalmology services.
The MMI Ukraine team facilitates local initiatives (without North American participants) to provide vision services and screen for cataract patients. Logistics are then organized to bring patients to Kyiv or Odessa where New Zir hosts surgery days. Screening programs in Odessa are run with the support of multiple Rotary Clubs in the region.
Prior to the pandemic, MMI Ukraine was serving approximately 3,000 patients per year, including 325 cataract surgeries, with a total value of services of $1.48 million. In 2020 and 2021, services were reduced due to lockdowns. However, the team was still active and in 2021 they served 704 patients, including 129 cataract surgeries, with a total value of services of $705,000.
100 Eyes Program
In 2018, MMI Ukraine launched the program ‘100 Eyes’ to provide cataract services to 100 veterans of the Donbass conflict zone who had suffered traumatic cataracts. Pictured above are 9 of the veterans who have received surgery through the program with Dr. Emil and Tofig. A local Ukrainian news outlet covered the story and the video is below. Screenings and surgeries are ongoing.
Program Site:
Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population in July 2013 was 2,847,200, making Kyiv the 8th most populous city in Europe. Kyiv is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural centre of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions and world-famous historical landmarks. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including the Kyiv Metro.
* Project Description:
Preforming cataract surgeries, guiding local young eye doctors during consultations, sharing experiences and conducting classes with local doctors. Teams work in the Medical Center called “New Zir", a great facility which opened in 2004. http://www.zir.com.ua/eng
Elevation
179m (587 ft)
Climate
The months May, June, July and August have nice weather with a good average temperature.
Travelling on a Project
Dr John Wilkinson with patient
About Ukraine
COUNTRY BACKGROUND
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea coastline and forested mountains. Its capital, Kyiv, features the gold-domed St. Sophia's Cathedral, with 11th-century mosaics and frescoes. Overlooking the Dnieper River is the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a Christian pilgrimage site housing Scythian tomb relics and catacombs containing mummified Orthodox monks. Ukraine has a shared culture and history with neighboring nations dating back to the 9th century and the Land of Rus. Mutual customs are shared among the cultures of Ukraine, Belarus, Ukrainian Cossacks, and Russians. Ukrainian customs are heavily influenced by the Eastern Orthodox Church and traditions from Slavic mythology. Ukraine is famous for agricultural production such as sunflower and wheat. It is known as the 'Bread basket' of Europe. The diversified economy of Ukraine includes a large heavy industry sector, particularly in aerospace and industrial equipment.
LOCATION:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:
49 00 N, 32 00 E
MAP REFERENCES:
Asia, Europe
TOTAL AREA:
603,628 km²
BORDER COUNTRIES:
Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia
COASTLINE:
2,782 km
MARITIME CLAIMS:
12 nautical miles
TERRAIN:
Mostly fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains found only in the west (the Carpathians) or in the extreme south of the Crimean Peninsula
CLIMATE:
Temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
ELEVATION EXTREMES
LOWEST POINT:
Black Sea - 0 m
HIGHEST POINT:
Hora Hoverla - 2,061 m
