Coordinating and Analytical Centre “Ecology and Health”

Coordinating and Analytical Center “Ecology and Health” opened in Ukraine in the fall of 2009 under leadership of the world-renown medical scientist, founder and first rector (1990-1999) of Medical University in Gomel (Belarus), and prisoner of conscience Yury Bandazhevski, on the basis of the Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Chernobyl, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine in Kiev, center Pushcha-Vodice.

The Center’s mission is «Research on human health and the sustainable development of Ukraine and Belarus».

The Center focuses its efforts on improving health conditions in the regions affected by Chernobyl disaster. The Center will serve as a resource of information, expertise, and advocacy on health and ecology issues for Ukrainian and Belarusian communities and governments, as well as for other national and international parties involved, and provide reliable information for the population affected by the consequences on the issues related to health and ecology.

Particularly, it’s including:

• Provide consultations related to national and international healthcare programs in Ukraine and Belarus;
• Coordinate academic and applicable research on the implications to the health of the population of contacts with radioactive elements and other pollutants;
• Research the causes and effects of the current ecologic and demographic situation with the Chernobyl catastrophe and ways to change the situation;
• Inform the population of the results of the above-mentioned research;
• Develop analytical materials to educate international community of the medical consequences of Chernobyl;
• Contribute to changing the national legislation of countries that have gaps and drawbacks in relevant pieces of legislation related to ecology, health, and demography;
• Create necessary conditions for the formation of the international intergovernmental program aimed at liquidation of the aftermath of Chernobyl;
• Coordinate its actions with the major international non-governmental players supporting the community of Chernobyl liquidators and victims.

 

Chernobyl nuclear plant accident (1986) is one of the major nuclear disasters in the history of humankind and the only one rated highest on the 7-graded International Nuclear and Radiological Events Scale (INES)¹. Several regions of Ukraine and Belarus suffered tremendously from contamination which resulted in deterioration of the health of human population and the wildlife. Sources testify to the increased levels of cancer, heart diseases, endocrine and reproductive systems illnesses, increased death rates, and plunging fertility. However, Chernobyl disaster is not the only reason for degradation of the human health and demographic problems in Belarus, Ukraine and other states. There is substantial evidence that these deceases are caused by deteriorating ecology in addition to prolonged contact of the population (starting from the early 1960s) with radioactive materials, including those released during the Chernobyl catastrophe. It doesn’t exclude the influence of other factors on the health of these countries’ population.

 

Government’s support addressing health and ecological problems related to Chernobyl consequences has been steadily decreasing as was the attention of the international community to the issue. Lack of comprehensive, up-to-date and credible information from the ground zero complicates matters, and discourages international interest to the problem. Therefore, the Center’s role is to draw the public and international attention to these issues and push for wide recognition of demographic and other consequences originating from the healthcare problems.

 

The Ecology and Health Center is a non-profit organization with a certificate of registration from the authorities of Ukraine.

 

Contact:
Coordinating and Analytical Center Ecology and Health
Ukraine, 07 200, Kiev region, Ivankov district, 
Ivankov,  Street Poleska, 65.
E-mail: center.by.ukr@gmail.com
Phone number: 00 380 93 560 30 18

 

^[1] Information on INES could be found at: http://www.iaea.or.at/Publications/Factsheets/English/ines.pdf