U.S. Department of State Hospital Project in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC)

On November 5th 2009 a press conference was held at the Crimean Republican Health Center in Simferopol, to mark the start up of the Hospital project in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC).

This project is a joint effort by the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Health in ARC that will considerably improve the technical capacities of the Republican and municipal hospitals to provide emergency and other medical assistance to the people of Crimea.

From November 3rd - 20th, a group of 12 American experts headed by Mr. John Post, U.S Project Coordinator, will work together with the Ministry of Health, ARC specialists to conduct a needs assessment of the target hospitals.

The U.S. State Department will donate about 100 containers with medical equipment and supplies valued at approximately $15-20 million to meet the medical needs of the target hospitals and population in ARC.

The project will be implemented in 3 phases:

1. Assessment to identify the needs of the target hospitals in November 2009.
2. From February-July 2010, needed equipment will be sourced, stored and loaded to containers.
3. In August 2010, the containers of medical equipment and supplies will be shipped to ARC and training will be conducted for the personnel who will use and maintain the delivered equipment.

The handover ceremony will be held in September 2010 after completion of the project.

This project will demonstrate the excellent cooperation between all the agencies involved in the identification, delivery, unloading and custom clearance procedures of about 100 containers of medical equipment donated by the American people to meet the health needs of the population of ARC.

International Relief and Development Inc. will coordinate and provide logistic support to this program.