Lutsenko goes on trial - The Ukrainian Weekly

No. 22Groundbreaking conference...(Continued from page 9)THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 29, 201119and encouragement of Dr. Lonchyna andDr. Tymiak Lonchyna.During his presentations, Dr. Fishbeindemonstrated the proper way for a physicaltherapist to assess nutrition. Forexample, how to figure out if a child isundernourished, how to devise a plan forre-nourishment or how to assess whethera patient’s intestinal tract is functioningproperly.Dr. Fishbein’s lectures also providedrecommendations regarding proper feedingmethods based on how much eachchild can drink and from what type ofcup a patient should drink, depending onsize and shape. Analogous recommendationswere made regarding the type ofeating utensils used to feed children. Thekey, according to Dr. Fishbein, is to realizethat each child is an individual withspecific needs, and that nutrition is aquality of life issue, involving the abilityto eat better, to be more autonomous,more active and more animated.“It is pleasant to experience and witnessthese results. I was invited by verynice people, who are very committed tothis noble cause and who devoted a lot oftime, effort and money for it. These arethe reasons why I signed up for this conferenceas well as the ongoing projects,”concluded Dr. Fishbein.Sight and Life programAs director of the Sight and Life program,Dr. Klaus Kraemer of Basel,Switzerland, made his fourth trip toUkraine to attend the conference. A nutritionscientist specializing in micronutrientand nutrition research, Dr. Kraemerhas been advocating proper nutrition forthe past 30 years.“Sight and Life,” established in 1986,has been championing the global fightagainst micronutrient deficiencies with aparticular focus on how to assist in theprovision of Vitamin A in developingcountries.“Although Ukraine is not considered aso-called developing country, it is experiencingsome micronutrient and malnutritionproblems. The lack of iodine in saltis of concern, as well as deficiencies infolic acid, which is essential in the preventionof neuro-tube defects,” stated Dr.Kraemer.Dr. Kraemer first visited Ukraine as amedical student in 1983. However, hisinterest in Ukraine’s nutritional healthincreased when his program’s partnerorganization and sponsor, DSM, firstalerted Dr. Kraemer of the Ukrainianpopulation’s nutrition deficiency. As aresult, Dr. Kraemer has been involvedwith Ukraine’s Sight and Life programsince 2008.As a major Dutch Life Sciences company,and vitamin and mineral manufacturer,DSM is active in health, nutritionand materials provision.According to Dr. Kraemer, the averageratio of caretaker to child is 1:4 or at least1:5, but such ideal scenarios are still aconsiderable challenge in Ukrainianinternats. “Therefore, such a conferenceis very beneficial, because it offers thepossibility to monitor the situation andthe participants will see that there aresimple tools which can be appliedthrough practical training, such as the useof growth charts, for example,” he said.In addition, Kraemer also underscoredthe positive fact that finally there is significantpolitical interest as well as accessibilityto the internats.“This initiative is now at such a stagethat we can make considerable progressvery quickly by lobbying the governmentfor further improvement and an increasein staff members to work with the chil-Nurses who participated in the conference on pediatric nutrition with their certificates.dren,” he asserted.Reflecting on his earlier visits, Dr.Kraemer said Ukraine has changed significantlysince the Soviet era. During theconference’s final session, Dr. Kraemeradmitted how deeply impressed he wasby the dedication and concerted effort ofall the people who work in the internatyand rehabilitation centers every day. “Ithink we have all realized over the courseof this conference and training that sometimessimple changes can really make adifference,” he concluded.Early intervention is keyThe field of early intervention is relativelynew in Ukraine, because the methodsused in early intervention have been,for the most part, unknown, according toTetiana Mischuk, M.D., a pediatric neurologistbased in Lviv. The family-orientedapproach, for example, is still notpracticed as a whole, and the shift from astrictly medical approach, to what Dr.Mischuk refers to as “a more bio-psychosociological”approach vis-à-vis the treatmentof incapacity, is still an ongoingprocess.“This is a challenge, because, althoughthe medical aspect of care for incapacitatedchildren is well-developed in Ukraine,we still need to incorporate the concept ofearly intervention and non-medical servicesinto the system to improve theoverall quality of life,” stated Dr.Mischuk.In her presentation, Dr. Mischukstressed that, although pediatric cerebralpalsy, for example, is a lifetime condition,an individual with such challengesstill has the same needs as everyone else– to eat, drink, move around and communicatewith other people. “The importantthing to remember is that a person with aphysical incapacity is first and foremost ahuman being,” underscored Dr. Mischuk.Having devoted the past nine years ofher expertise to working with incapacitatedchildren at Dzherelo in Lviv, Dr.Mischuk stated that the time has come forUkrainian society to move forward withrespect to early intervention as a model inthe treatment of children at risk of developing,or with, certain disabilities.“For me this is a vocation, because Iwould like to see in every human being,including those that are challenged, notjust what an individual can’t do, but whathe/she can do with the help of others,”stated Dr. Mischuk.Participants’ assessmentIllya M. LabunkaFollowing three days of theoretical andpractical sessions, each of the Ukrainianphysical therapists/trainees received acertificate of participation from Ms.Kalandiak on behalf of the NationalAssociation of Physical Therapists inUkraine.Andriy Rud of Zinkiv in the PoltavaOblast was one such recipient. A graduateof the medical college in Lebedyn, SumyOblast, Mr. Rud was qualified to work asan emergency medical technician, butupon receiving his degree, he chose toapply his skills in a pediatric internat. Atage 25, Mr. Rud has been working as amale nurse at the Zinkiv PediatricInternat for the past three years, specializingin pediatric dietary nutrition. Theinternat currently serves the needs of 130severely challenged individuals rangingin age from 6 to 32.Reiterating the assessment expressedby all of the organizers and specialists atthe conference, Mr. Rud confirmed that alack of resources is always one of themajor challenges of such a profession.High-quality nutrients, rehabilitationrelatedequipment and simple devicessuch as specifically designed feedingutensils are consistently in need, accordingto Mr. Rud.“Despite everything, the greatest joyand satisfaction occurs when you see theresults of your labor, particularly whenyou witness kids who are well-fed, satiatedand just enjoying life as best as theycan,” said Mr. Rud.In extending her gratitude to all of theco-organizers, sponsors and participantsof the conference, Dr. Tymiak-Lonchynaexpressed the hope that such conferenceswill take place at least once per year,becoming more and more enlighteningand with an ever-increasing impact eachpassing year.“I also hope that the participants ofthis conference will not only make use ofall the information they acquired, but thatthey will also disseminate it among membersof their respective communities, sothat we, in turn, can learn what otherimportant topics need to be addressed inthe future. This will help us to encourageother specialists from the West to joinforces with us in our effort to help providea better quality of life for challengedchildren in Ukraine,” stated Dr. Tymiak-Lonchyna.The Starving for Color Fund is currentlysupervising the Ukrainian translationof a medical textbook that will bepublished by December 2011. The translationwill be the first of its kind medicaltextbook for nurses, physicians, medicalstudents and health care professionals inUkraine.The original version of the 538-pagemedical textbook (Jones & BartlettPublishers, 2010) is titled “PediatricNutrition, Fourth Edition.” It providesnutrition guidelines from preconceptionthrough neonatal, including normalgrowth, inborn errors, acute care medicalconditions such as diabetes, and cardiacand pulmonary issues. The textbook coversthe latest clinical research, acceptedpractice protocols, and study of the normalchild from preconception throughadolescence.In a practical and detailed manner, thisbest-selling text includes up-to-dateresearch and resources on the mostimportant pediatric practice issues andtherapies. Commonly used by dieteticpractitioners studying for their PediatricSpecialty exams, registered dietitians,dietetic technicians, nutritionists, pediatricians,nurses, and dietetic students,according to Dr. Roksolona Tymiak-Lonchyna, this book is considered thelast word in pediatric nutrition.“This textbook is a must for Ukraineand I am thrilled that Jones & BartlettPublishers have given us the copyright tothis book, which our workers in Lviv arealready in the process of translating,” saidDr. Tymiak-Lonchyna.The book will be offered and distributedat no cost to all the internaty, pediatricians,medical libraries, medical schoolsand any personnel working with thephysically and mentally challenged child.“The cost of printing 1,000 copies isclose to $30,000. We have alreadyreceived some very generous donationsfor which we are truly grateful but westill need a little more help to reach ourgoal. The more funds we raise, the morebooks we can print,” explained Dr.Tymiak-Lonchyna.Those willing to make a donation insupport of the medical textbook translationproject may send a check to:Starving for Color Fund, 828 S.Washington St., Hinsdale, IL, 60521;please indicate that the donation is for thetranslation of the text. For more information,readers may contact Dr. RoksolanaTymiak-Lonchyna at rtymiak@comcast.net