LocationsThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) purchased $1 million worth of medical equipment to help doctors and nurses at the Mogilev Regional Clinical Hospital fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment continues to save lives and enhance healthcare delivery in the region today.
UNDP's Million-Dollar Investment Transforms Healthcare in Mogilev
December 26, 2024
Photo: Mahilieu Regional Hospital
The bulk of the supplies arrived in 2021-2022. The comprehensive package included ventilators, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines, high-precision ultrasound equipment, specialized resuscitation beds, verticalizers, patient transport gurneys, syringe dispensers, and monitoring systems. The UNDP managed the entire process, from procurement to staff training, while the Ministry of Health of Belarus oversaw the strategic distribution of resources.
Hospital officials say the relief effort was a step forward for the region's entire healthcare system. The impact of this initiative extended far beyond immediate pandemic response.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Photo: Mahilieu Regional Hospital
During the height of COVID-19, the hospital dedicated 650 beds to infected patients while maintaining its essential emergency and routine medical services.
Initially, the facility struggled with limited resources, operating with just one 10-ton oxygen tank and requiring medical staff to gather oxygen concentrators from across the hospital to sustain patients in intensive care.
Dr. Anatoly Kulik, Chief Physician of the Mogilev Regional Hospital, recounts the challenging early days when medical personnel worked extended shifts due to staff shortages. The arrival of new equipment marked a turning point.
The installation of three oxygen tanks ensured comprehensive patient care, while the number of resuscitation beds doubled from 24 to 48, with 90% connected to oxygen supply points. The ventilators now operate continuously, logging up to 7,000 hours monthly in their critical life-saving role.
Supporting Intensive Care and Cardiac Surgery
The intensive care units received the majority of the new equipment, including two ECMO machines that provide essential heart and lung support to critically ill patients. The Mogilev Regional Hospital became the only medical facility in the region with this advanced capability.
In addition, it became possible to transport patients with ECMO machines in critical care ambulance vehicles, which the hospital could not provide before. This enables the safe transfer of patients requiring ECMO support, significantly improving access to advanced emergency care throughout the region.
Photo: Mahilieu Regional Hospital
A New Level of Diagnosis and Rehabilitation
Diagnostic capabilities saw substantial enhancement with the acquisition of a Mindray DC-60 ultrasound system featuring 4D technology. The neurology department received essential equipment for stroke patient care, including specialized gurneys, verticalizers, and monitoring systems.
Chief Neurologist Maxim Komarovsky emphasizes the crucial role of verticalizers in stroke rehabilitation, citing a success story where a patient with a ruptured abdominal aorta recovered after 36 days of treatment.
Scale and Sustainability of Care
Verticalizator.
Photo: Mahilieu Regional Hospital
The hospital's impact extends throughout the Mogilev region, serving thousands of patients annually. Its critical care ambulance service covers extensive territory, traveling up to 15,000 kilometers monthly to transport severely ill patients. The UNDP-provided equipment remains in constant use, supporting the medical staff's daily efforts to preserve and improve patient health.
This investment represents part of a broader UNDP initiative in Belarus, which has provided $48 million worth of medical equipment to a quarter of the country's healthcare facilities. The enhanced capabilities position the hospital to effectively respond to future health crises while maintaining high-quality routine healthcare services for the region's population.
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