Portugal will send to Ukraine, this week, medicines worth around 200 thousand euros donated by pharmaceutical companies and blood components from Portuguese donors, the Assistant Secretary of State and Health told Lusa today.
This is the second shipment of humanitarian aid sent by Portugal, through the European Civil Protection Mechanism.
The first followed on March 3 by land transport to a warehouse in Poland on the border with Ukraine and included 204 units of medicines for hospital and outpatient use, including antibiotics, analgesics, serums for hydration, as well as 416 thousand syringes and needles, worth 100 thousand euros.
“During this week, Wednesday or Thursday, a private contingent of approximately 200 to 250 thousand euros will come out and which also includes serums, antibiotics, analgesics, corticosteroids that were donated by different pharmaceutical companies”, said the Assistant Secretary of State. and Health.
At the State level, 500 units of fresh frozen plasma from quarantine, 2.000 units of group A detergent solvent-treated plasma and 10.000 units of human albumin will be sent by Wednesday morning, said António Lacerda Sales.
These blood components come from Portuguese blood donors and are fundamentally intended to help situations of polytraumatized and burn victims, said the official.
“This type of donations, both public and private, are made under the European Civil Protection Mechanism and other donations will likely arise”, he said, explaining that “it is a very dynamic process and very adjustable depending on what the needs are. ».
Asked about the willingness shown by Portuguese and Ukrainian doctors to support refugees and victims of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, Lacerda Sales said that "the Ministry of Health is always ready, through INEM, its Medical Emergency module and professionals ", if it's necessary.
«It is a team of about 30 professionals, but if there is a need to adjust or increase that number, it is also done», he assured.
However, he added, there are “other types of situations”, namely individuals who offer to go to the borders and Ukrainian doctors who “have immediately, through the Medical Association that is collaborating in this regard, ready to receive Ukrainians”.
Lacerda Sales stressed the importance of this support due to the «closeness of the language», so that refugees can be welcomed «as closely and as quickly as possible».
Portugal made 603 beds available in hospitals of the National Health Service for emerging patients, of which 495 in wards and 108 beds in intensive care units (adults, pediatrics, neonatal and burn patients).
12 pediatric oncology beds requested by the European Civil Protection Mechanism were also made available.
The beds are dispersed in different parts of the country, but most are located in the “biggest hospitals in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra”, he said, noting that the request for beds “is adjustable and dynamic” depending on the needs throughout the country. .
In view of the low vaccine coverage against covid-19 of the Ukrainian people, which is around 35%, the Secretary of State assured that Portugal provides “all possible mechanisms to vaccinate those who want to do so”.
He explained that an assessment will be made of the vaccination status of the people who arrive, to whom a definitive user number will be assigned, so that they can have “the best assistance in health care”.
After this survey is done, people who want to be vaccinated can be vaccinated through the central or open house scheduling process.
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