As the war rages on between Russia and Ukraine, brave caregivers at Clinica Angelia, an Adventist clinic in Kiev, continue to provide critical healthcare to the people of Ukraine.
Centura Health has partnered with Clinica Angelia since 2019 through the Global Health Initiatives program, an initiative that provides high quality healthcare leadership mentoring to strengthen health systems in developing countries around the world.
Since the partnership with Clinica Angelia began, Centura and GHI have given more than $42,000 – much of that from generous donors. Throughout the pandemic, the donations provided resources and inpatient service updates to care for COVID-19 patients. In recent months, the donations from Centura GHI and AdventHealth have helped Clinica Angelia purchase much-needed medical supplies and vehicles that were converted into mobile health clinics. In addition, the clinic was able to access a new portable ultrasound machine that has helped detect early signs of cancer in several patients.
“It is our mission at Centura to extend the healing ministry of Christ, whether it be to our neighbors in our communities in Colorado and western Kansas or to communities in developing countries,” said Patrick Gaughan, Centura senior vice president and chief values integration officer. He added, “We first looked into this partnership just before the pandemic, and we are so grateful to have been able to provide support for Clinica Angelia through COVID-19 and the horrific invasion from Russia.”
At the end of 2022, Yury Bondarenko, MD, director and CEO of Clinica Angelia, visited Centura headquarters and Porter Adventist Hospital, which serves as its sponsor. During his visit, he thanked donors for their generous contributions that have helped the clinic become self-sufficient and ever serving through this challenging time in his country.
“It is a blessing. Thank you so much,” said Dr. Bondarenko. “If you pray [for us], we will be extremely grateful.”
Through the mobile health clinics, hundreds of Ukrainians impacted and displaced since the war began have received essential medical care. The mobile health clinics support various specialties and services including family medicine, lab testing, cardiology, dermatology, ultrasounds, dental care and more.
As the war continues and the weather has turned cold, the challenges to keep the clinic operational have also increased. Air raids have caused ongoing blackouts, which have forced the clinic to rely on generators to provide some warmth to staff and patients and ensure critical operations continue.
“During this time, we lose electricity more than 10 times a day and are using generators for over 10 hours a day. Every attack is incredibly challenging for us,” said Dr. Bondarenko.
Dr. Bondarenko says that Clinica Angelia caregivers are also facing burnout and depression. With future donations, GHI plans to aid the clinic with behavioral health support and expertise for caregivers, and for the patients they serve.
“It is truly remarkable how our partners and caregivers at Clinica Angelia have pressed on, overcoming so many obstacles to ensure their patients and neighbors receive essential health care,” said Eric Shadle, MD, Centura vice president of mission integration. “We are honored to be their partner and remain committed to providing any support we can.”
Despite the challenges and constant state of stress caregivers are under, Dr. Bondarenko says they remain resilient, telling donors during his visit to Centura that caregivers have been working through air raids to give patients the care they deserve.
“When rockets come from Russia, we get 30- or 40-minutes warning,” he said. “That can mean enough time for a dentist to finish with the patient.”
Dr. Bondarenko added that it is through his faith in God that he is able to overcome anxiety and depression so that he can continue to serve his patients.
“Evil has no logic, war has no logic. But Jesus is my CEO, and I am just a piece of clay,” said Dr. Bondarenko.
The partnership with Clinica Angelia is one of many meaningful and long-lasting relationships that Centura and GHI have formed in developing countries around the world, with direct partnerships also in Peru, Nepal and Rwanda.
From left: Patrick Gaughan, Centura SVP and Chief Values Integration Officer; Yury Bondarenko, MD, Administrator at Clinica Angelia; Todd Folkenberg, GHI Executive Sponsor of Clinica Angelia and Porter Adventist Hospital CEO; and Eric Shadle, MD, Centura VP of Mission Integration
