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THE SITUATION IN Ukraine has forced a life-saving cardiac surgery programme for children with ‘Chernobyl Heart’ to be suspended.
Irish humanitarian aid agency Chernobyl Children International (CCI) has organised and funded the surgery programme for the past 10 years.
Teams of surgeons from the US and Canada travel to Ukraine and Belarus six times a year to operate on the children.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Brendan Smith has expressed his deep concern at the suspension of the programme over the escalating violence in the Ukraine.
“Chernobyl Children International has been doing fantastic work improving the quality of life of countless children in the Ukraine through this vital surgery programme”.
Smith called for the Irish government to lead the way in easing the crisis:
I am calling on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Éamon Gilmore to intervene and do all he can to ensure that these life-saving surgeries can still go ahead.
“I join with Adi Roche, the CEO of Chernobyl Children International, in calling for Ireland to play a leading role in trying to find a way, with its European partners, of easing the political and military crisis in Ukraine”.
Chernobyl Heart
Every year 6,000 children are born with genetic heart diseases and defects in Ukraine.
Medical experts there say these conditions, some of which they describe as “Chernobyl Heart”, are linked to radiation leaks from the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident in 1986.
The “open heart” surgery programme to save the lives of these children is a joint initiative between Ireland, Ukraine and the US.
CEO of Chernobyl Children International Adi Roche said that “riots and a worsening security situation has meant that the current series of operations which were due to be carried out this month have had to be suspended.
This is very tragic because there are long waiting lists for these vital life-saving operations.
“At the moment we have teams of surgeons standing by in the US and Canada waiting to travel to Kharkiv but we have been advised that the situation there is so unstable that their safety cannot be guaranteed and that the programme should be suspended for the time being.
The reality is that one in every four children diagnosed with the heart defect know as “Chernobyl Heart” will die before they reach the age of six – so the programmes we organise and fund each year are really a race against time.
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Some Irish children who need surgery cant get it either…
As selfish as it may sound, look after your own first.
It is absolutely not the case that Irish children with life-threatening, treatable heart conditions don’t get the surgery they need.
I mean if you’re against Ireland assisting in this programme, then fair enough, but don’t try and claim the situation for children in the two countries is even remotely similar.
Exactly, Cal. “Our own” are looked after. If a child requires such life-saving heart surgery, he or she will get it.
Well said.
Eventually!
This story has nothing to do with Irish children though.
The article mentions volunteer Canadian & US surgeons.
Our own? As in human beings?
Are they still saying child illness is related to Chernobyl. That was 28 years ago.
Selfish is right.
being the parent of a child who has endured 3 open heart surgeries so far in his life, i know all about the cardiac services in this country and believe you mean we have some of the best surgeons in the world here but also huge waiting lists for our children here to have life saving operations ,the situation here in our own country is at crisis point and we need to start concentrating on that too, i also hope and pray that the chrildren over there get to have their life saving surgery soon too though
Ah Chernobyl. Russia’s gift to Ukraine and Belarus.
Soviet health and safety at its best
The Soviet era pioneered many medical procedures.
In fairness, their health system wasn’t bad at all. I found myself in hospital in St. Petersburg after injuries sustained to my shoulder. In, seen, X-rayed and out in less than 2 hours. Results the next day. Compare that with any western European country.
Ah Brian, something good to say about Russia? Your drinking? But seriously, it’s tragic tat because of US interference in Ukraine that these poor kids must suffer. Let’s hope the fascists in Kiev are soon kicked out and normal politics to resume. The US indifference to civilian suffering is mind boggling. Thousands of children killed and maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan that’s to US aggression.
Unlike your bigoted self, Nicole, I am able to divorce a political establishment from the common people. I used to live in Russia. I speak fluent Russian and can get by in Ukrainian. I have a lot of good things to say about Russia. Their public transport is excellent. Their health service is excellent. The people are friendly (the cold exterior is a perception westerners have because of cultural differences). The food is good and nightlife even better. It’s the complete lack of democracy that’s the problem. That and the fact that when you live there, you fear the police more than the criminals. Corruption is rife amongst the politicians and the police forces. And the fact that human rights protests are banned or attacked under the eyes of the police while neo-Nazi marches are allowed proceed unhindered is another aspect of Russia I’m not happy with. But then, you seem to like Russian Nazis and actually advocated an annexation plan that would have involved thousands of innocent lives lost and widespread ethnic cleansing.
Yeah you said all that before, we know you lived in Russia. So what? I was referring to the US hyprocacy. You think the extreme right is any better in the US? Russia is as democratic as the US and as for Russians, you look at the religious right in the US. Bigoted, homophobic, racist anti women, anti choice and of course they think the earth is 5000 years old. Don’t give me your pathetic anti Russian bull and deal with the reality of US imperialism. Social democrat my hole. Yanker
Nicole, I am on record on this very site for condemning the US on a multitude of topics. I despise their religious right element (to be honest, they sicken me to the core). I hate their foreign policy. I hate how only the rich seem to be able to dictate policy. The difference between you and me is that I actually possess the ability to criticise both sides. Not once have you criticised any aspect of Russia which leads me to believe you completely support them, including their persecution of the LGBT community and religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities. In other words, you support persecution and discrimination. What kind of person could support such things? You also support the gun over dialogue and negotiation. That, to me, is sick. I support equality and human rights for all. You only support it for those you deem worthy – and in this case it’s Russian Nazis and imperialists.
Jezz Brian you haven’t read all my previous posts. I despise the Russian government for its behaviour. The sucking up to the religious right and the homophobic laws are disgusting. The Russian government have benefit to arrest Trade Union leaders too. I do my best to annoy the US apologists and their hyprocacy. Kerry calling the protesters in Kiev “freedom fighters” and protesting when the Russians go the same thing. I have seen the extreme right in St Petersburg and in Riga and Hungry and making big gains in France. The Russians may be a lot of things and Putin is of the zz religious right but I can’t say that they are imperialist.
Nadeisa i dzdi
Nadeisa i dzdi
To be honest, Nicole, it must be the way we deliver our messages, because based on your last comment I can see we’re closer in opinion than either of us would have realised. As for the imperialists…well Putin, for all his flaws, is not one. That I believe. But take a look at Zhirinovsky, a very prominent Russian politician who told the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians to get in their boats and start sailing and said that Russia should retake Alaska and transfer all Ukrainians there. That’s imperialism to me under any definition.
Yeah I agree. And that guy is nuts. Sounds like something Sarah Palin would say. Apologies if I said anything out of turn Brian but I thought you were like the others on here. My partner has family in Ukraine and is half Ukrainian. So I take great pleasure in annoying the US apologists in here!
No, I like to think for myself. I read pro-Western and anti-Western material simply because I know the truth always lies somewhere in between. I’ve been called both a leftie loonie and a rightwing nut, simply because my opinions don’t agree with the particular audience with whom I’m debating. I too apologise for anything I said to you out of turn. As for Ukraine, as far as I’m concerned the EU, US, and Russia equally have a lot to answer for. The leaders of each, including the IMF, couldn’t give a damn about the ordinary person on the street and are only interested in power and money. As a result, children, such as those affected by Chernobyl, are suffering. But Obama, Merkel, Cameron and Putin couldn’t give a toss.
We are on the same page then Brian. Appreciate you comments and you have summed it up very well. I too look at the various media, best thing is to watch RT news and Fox News and truth is somewhere on between!
If they want to save that child an irish hospital is the last place they should be sending it.
Do you know anything about paediatric cardiac surgery services in Ireland? Are you suggesting that they’re deficient in some way?
Ignorant and stupid comment there Ross!
Not to mention the fact that there is nothing about sending children to Irish hospitals mentioned in the article…
“Irish humanitarian aid agency Chernobyl Children International (CCI) has organised and funded the surgery programme for the past 10 years.”
“Teams of surgeons from the US and Canada travel to Ukraine and Belarus six times a year to operate on the children.”
Dexter I am merely commenting on the fact people are dying because ambulances are not reaching them on time and the amounts of cuts to the services, that is not being an armchair critic it’s fact. We have a dilapidated health service.
There are Irish children on there death beds waiting for operations and they can’t get looked after and we are supposed to fork out for another country’s medical crises.
We’re not “forking out” for it. It is a charity where volunteers give their time for free to help children in the Ukraine.
When was the last time you volunteered your time to any charity or NGO Elaine?
Apologies Trevor, took you up wrong!
Thanks dexter enjoy your evening
With all the recent hse controversy lately would they want our help or would they be better off over there.
Pity you weren’t over there Trevor. But you’d miss your armchair too much!!
Jaysus. You know things are bad in Ukraine when…
Shame on Putin.
Shame on the West….it’s their fault.
Sorry Eamon and Nicole, but it’s actually a shame on both sides. If both sides had adhered to the principal of respect for sovereignty then none of this would have happened.
True Brian, I can accept that
The Western PR campaign against Russia continues, the propaganda from the AFP and Reuters reports makes me want to puke – children are being used now.
Just like their excellently impartial Syrian reports – every photo of destruction and massacres are by the Syrian government.
Sean, this is about children and life saving operations.
It’s good that surgeons are volunteering to go over there.
So maybe you should shut the F up!
Send the bill to Vladimir Putin …
His personal wealth is estimated at over €40 billion !
How is a charity saying that the unstable situation means they can provide healthcare for terminally-ill children. No blame is placed on anyone. Well done Sean, even by the standards of the Journal you hit a new high in anti-West nonsense and even managed to show some support for Assad.
Who estimated that Judy?? The Ukrainian fascists or the warmongering US?
Dead right Sean
Nicole, I’m starting to believe that your vocabulary is limited to the words “fascist” and “warmongering”.
What about the Irish children who have no access to services here in Ireland?
Won’t somebody please think of the (non-existent) children!
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