On May 10, Governor of the U.S. State of Maryland, Larry Hogan, announced the shipment of a multi-million-dollar aid package to support the people of Odesa, a sister city of Baltimore. The aid package for Odesa, which like Baltimore is a port, includes Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilators, bandages and wound care supplies.
The announcement follows the governor’s teleconference with Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov, last month.
“The atrocities taking place in Ukraine have served as a reminder to all of us of exactly why strong ties and alliances are so critical, and why it is so important that we do whatever we can to support our allies in their time of need,” said Hogan.
The press conference was held at the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Hanover. The governor was accompanied by Yaroslav Brisiuck, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of Ukraine to the U.S.; Karina Mandell, chair of the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee; William Chester of the Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation (PCCHF); as well as Maryna Baydyuk and Borys Levonenko of United Help Ukraine – an organization that collects and supplies medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine
The MDH is donating more than 485,000 bandages and wound care supplies, 95 Eternity mechanical ventilators for hospital ICUs and 50 Astral portable ventilators. There are also nearly 200 pieces of body armour, consisting of bulletproof vests and shields, which have been donated by the Maryland State Police.
This is the second donation of medical supplies that the state has made to Ukraine in recent weeks. In March, the governor announced that the state was working with the PCCHF to donate portable ventilators to treat patients at front line hospitals in Ukraine.
The Maryland Department of General Services and United Help Ukraine are providing logistical and other support.
The ventilators and other supplies should depart from the U.S. soon and arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks.
