PROJECTS TO DATE

In our projects to date, each of which has been of four weeks duration, over fifty volunteers consisting of skilled tradesmen and other personnel unskilled but very willing, have used annual leave and holiday, flying out at their own expense for a period of one to two weeks. 

All materials and tools needed for the task are transported from England.

A residential and day school for approximately 150 children with varying forms of disability and special needs. Our first major project having seen first hand the terrible conditions these disabled, orphan children were forced to live with.

Tasks undertaken:

Refurbishment of 5 toilet/bathroom blocks inc provision of shower units.

Flooring tiles replaced

Some windows replaced

Erection of wooden partitions & doors to effect privacy not previously enjoyed.

Described by staff as ‘A Dream Come True’

Convalescent hospital for Mothers and babies where the baby is not well enough to be cared for at home and for the treatment of children recovering from surgery or infectious diseases. The hospital was in a terrible state of repair with only two toilets working properly and badly fitted rotting windows leaked water.

Tasks undertaken

Replace all toilets, baths, sinks and fit showers. 

A new boiler made it possible to supply constant hot water (a luxury) where hitherto only cold water had been available. 

A fully fitted kitchen meant for the provision of hot meals

Replace obsolete (by our standards) electrical sockets, lighting and replace wiring.

All windows and doors were replaced with double glazed units helping to keep out the cold harsh Belarusian winter conditions which can be as low as -27 degrees

This project changed the lives of people. Staff now have pride and a more positive outlook as they take care of the building and occupants.

A massive undertaking of a two storey building in a rural town which serves neighbouring communities over a 50 k/m area . This hospital may have closed were it not for the help given by Belarus Aid. Primitive equipment, empty drug cabinets lack of antibiotics and basic pain relief along with atrocious sanitary conditions inspired this project.

Tasks undertaken:      Refurbish all toilets and bathrooms

                              Replace all vinyl floor coverings  

                              Doors replaced with double glazed units

                              Painting of all walls and ceilings

                              Extensive electrical work

Many doctors and officials from neighbouring areas have enviously visited the hospital and praised the work done.

Formerly an old peoples home on the site of our 2003 project, we were disappointed that there was insufficient time to include work on this building as part of the project. However, when considering our next project, having learned that use of the building was now changed to that of a day care centre we included it in our list of 7 proposed project sites for consideration and this was chosen as our project for 2006.

Tasks undertaken

Extensive electrical work replaced all wiring, plugs, sockets & fitting fluorescent tubes

Replaced existing bath, toilet & sinks inc pipework, waste & new Shower over bath.

Built new floor in toilet and fitted partition frames and doors.

Fitted water heater to provide independent hot supply

Tiled over existing tiles in all relevant rooms

Covered all existing vinyl flooring with plywood and new vinyl covering

Replaced windows and doors with double glazed units

New suspended ceiling fitted in entrance and hall way.

Painted all ceilings, walls and doors

Built new external staircase.

Having learned that a scanner provided to the hospital by our organisation some years ago had become obsolete and of little use and wanting to do something a little bit special on the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy, Belarus Aid launched a Scanner Appeal with the intention of purchasing a suitable piece of equipment for presentation during the 2006 project.

With help from the trustees and groups within Medicine & Chernobyl UK plus a little help from other organisations and a good deal of perseverance the required a mount of £14,000 was raised and a suitable ultrasound scanner system was purchased through a Minsk company importing from Germany and is installed and fully operational at the hospital.

The significance of the scanner is immense to the people of Mir and surrounding area. Previously, patients requiring a scan would have to travel to Karolichi or even to  Minsk and in some cases at great expense just for the privilege of using the facility.

This resulted in many people not taking up the option either because of the expense or it was just too much trouble to people who have tolerated so much adversity in their lives, resulting of course in major ailments not being successfully diagnosed thereby remaining untreated.  Now the facility is available to everybody young and old alike.

Aloka SSD-1000 Ultrasound System

Seen here being used on a female patient at Mir Hospital

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