Operation Provide Hope supports Ukrainian medical facilities

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The Humanitarian Assistance Program located in Pirmasens, Germany, recently completed an Operation Provide Hope project in Simferopol, Ukraine, where medical supplies and training were provided to help increase their medical capabilities.

Operation Provide Hope is a State Department humanitarian assistance program that provides medical material and disaster relief assistance. The recent development affected nine medical facilities in Ukraine during a three-phase-program which began November 2009 until the final phase ended in October 2010.

A team of 10 civilians, two soldiers and 12 U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen came together last year to begin the project.

"Phase one was the assessment of facilities to receive aid in Ukraine," said Luis De Andrade, Humanitarian Assistance Program chief. "We visited all the facilities for two weeks last year then phase two we began to put it all together."

The second phase consisted of inspecting and preparing equipment, taking inventory, packing supplies and furniture, then shipping the equipment.

"We delivered 96 13-meter trucks full of equipment and supplies," Mr. De Andrade said. "The final phase is when we received the material and installed the equipment while training local medical staff on their new equipment."

Upon completion of the project, seven major hospitals and two major dental clinics were upgraded.

According to Mr. De Andrade, the $22.5 million project is expected to help more than one million people.

"It was an absolute success," said Lt. Col. John Ryan Bailey, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Europe deputy commander for operations. "All of Operation Provide Hope's missions are very successful and leave a lasting positive impact for the country involved. This mission to the Ukraine was significant because of the size and scope."

He stressed the magnitude of these types of projects helping other countries who need the material to better take care of their people.

"This is an important part of engagement with other countries that provides much needed humanitarian assistance and enhances future relations," Colonel Bailey said.
Even though the recipients were excited and grateful for the new medical equipment, the provide hope team was equally as thrilled.

"I love the job, it's kind of like playing Santa Claus all year long," Mr. De Andrade said. "This is a program that has tremendous impact because we do nothing but good. We work with the local folks and provide them with what they need based on their input, not what we think they need. This is a great example of U.S. assets being put to great use."

Utilizing our resources for a better cause is crucial, but projects like these also show how the American military is not just a fighting force but is also in place to help support our allies.

"The American military is a part of U.S. strategic policy, not just to fight but to pursue national policy in whatever shape it needs to, humanitarian assistance is a natural part of that overall picture," Mr. De Andrade said. "It is our ability to respond quickly and effectively to humanitarian needs in particular, that really wins the hearts and minds of people worldwide. The aspect that it is our military that does that so often enhances how people see us even more. What surprises many is the experience and knowledge level of our younger folks and the level of responsibility they take and can handle."