Latvia will continue to provide medical support to Ukraine - Abu Meri

RIGA - Despite global challenges, Latvia will continue to provide Ukraine with uninterrupted medical support within the limits of its capabilities, Health Minister Hossams Abu Meri (New Unity) said on Thursday in a meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia Anatolii Kutsevol.

As LETA was told at the Health Ministry, the National Rehabilitation Centre "Vaivari" (NRC) will continue to exchange expertise in cooperation with Ukrainian medics, and new sources of funding are being sought for this purpose. The minister and the ambassador discussed possibilities to deepen this cooperation by involving a wider range of medical disciplines and healthcare institutions.

"It is in Latvia's security interest to provide continuous support to Ukraine and our medical personnel can learn a lot from the Ukrainians' experience gains during the war," said Abu Meri.

The parties also discussed a rehabilitation program provided by Latvia for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Last year, 240 soldiers received healthcare services in Latvia under the program. Latvia plans to admit the same number of soldiers also this year.

Eight medical vehicles will also be delivered to Ukraine soon. This decision follows a request from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to help provide medical care and evacuation of military personnel wounded in hostilities from dangerous areas.

The Health Ministry notes that it is monitoring the situation in Ukraine by maintaining regular contacts with the Ukrainian Embassy in Latvia, the Ukrainian Health Ministry and the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine in order to receive information on the situation and necessary assistance.

It has already been reported that following the US decision to freeze funding for various foreign aid programs, the consequences were also felt in Latvia, and NRC Vaivari had to temporarily limit training of Ukrainian specialists. NRC Vaivari will continue training Ukrainian health professionals with the support of Citadele Bank, which has provided EUR 10,000 for the project.