2007 press releases

Ambassador Stewart Visits Mogilev and Donates Medical Supplies to Regional Children's Hospital

January 23, 2007
Minsk, Belarus

Issued by the Embassy

Mogilev Regional Children's Hospital staff  during the CitiHope donation ceremony

On December 14, 2006, a shipment of medicine worth approximately USD 2.46 million arrived in the Republic of Belarus as part of the active cooperation of the American charitable organization "CitiHope International," their Belarusian partner International Charitable Public Organization "Nadezhda Express," and the U.S. State Department.  On January 23, Ambassador Stewart and CitiHope International distributed part of the medical shipment to the Mogilev Regional Children's Hospital.  Ambassador Stewart thanked Reverend Paul Moore and CitiHope for their work to acquire these medicines, part of their long term effort to provide relief to Belarusians, and noted the close cooperation with the U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassy in financing the shipment.  The Ambassador also thanked the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus for their assistance in approving and registering the shipment, and the Mogilev healthcare authorities for distributing the medicines to those in need. 

CitiHope International, based in Andes, NY, has been providing assistance to the Republic of Belarus on a permanent basis since the Chernobyl disaster.  International Charitable Organization “Nadezhda Express,” a permanent Belarusian partner of CitiHope International, actively participated in a medical needs assessment, coordinated the delivery, and obtained the necessary host country agreements and permission to import the medical cargo.  The Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia of the Department of State provided overall direction and management of the humanitarian assistance program in Belarus and provided the financial support to CitiHope International for executing this project, including all transportation costs.  The medicine, which is expected to treat 15,000 patients, was distributed free of charge to regional and rural hospitals, outpatient clinics and other medical institutions throughout the country, in coordination with the Belarusian Ministry of Health. 

The shipment consists of the cephalosporin antibiotic Lorabid, which was donated by US pharmaceutical manufacturer Monarch Pharmaceutical. This medicine has a long shelf life and treats upper respiratory tract infections, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis, skin abscesses, urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis.  Lorabid is a newer medicine that attacks microorganisms resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics used in Belarus to treat bacterial infections in adults and children. 

Should you need any additional information on this humanitarian action, please, contact:
CitiHope International, Permanent Representation office in Minsk (phone/fax: 200 08 48; e-mail: citihope@yandex.ru) or Nadezhda Express office in Minsk (phone/fax: 200 18 53, e-mail: nadezhda-exp@yandex.ru).