Maurice Frohn and I came to revisit Chernobyl. We came to deepen our relationship with dear friends in Chernihiv who are not weeping for the destruction wrought by the Disaster of the Century, but who have their sleeves rolled up rehabilitating children, many of whom are suffering as a direct result of the radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that lies 40 miles east of here.
They built a Centre which is the only one of its kind in Ukraine. The builders: Pasechnik, Yakubova and Zenchenko were not afraid to stand up in the face the naysayers, the corrupt, or the hopeless, but who through hard work, hope and faith built a model Centre which is restoring this nation's life.
This victims of the Chernobyl accident are all but forgotten to the world which has used Chernobyl as a subject for interesting copy and script for newspapers and television, but which has done precious little to help the suffering victims.
Nuclear power run amok is not a local problem; it is the problem of everyone who lives on this frail and finite planet. The Chernobyl disaster is not only a Ukrainian catastrophe, it is a problem that we all own and have to live with. Too few people really know the magnitude of the destruction that has not only occurred, but that is continually spewing its affect on humans and the environment.
On this trip we spoke with government officials in the highest places. We visited with one of President Leonid Kuchma's top advisors in the Presidential Palace, we spoke with the Deputy Minister of Health. In Kyiv we held in-depth discussions with the head of the department of clinical immunology and allergology at the Ukrainian State Medical University, the deputy director of the Institute of Social Sciences and several other key leaders in medicine and statistics.
A highlight of this journey was visiting the United Kingdom's Ambassador to Ukraine, Roy Reeve, at the British Embassy. Back in the UK Maurice Frohn received a letter of introduction and we were treated to a lucid and enlightening conversation with the sensitive Ambassador who understood and cared for the Ukrainian people.
In Chernihiv we spent several days with directors of one of the two polyclinics for children. One of those directors gave Maurice and me the use of her apartment while she stayed with her mother. We visited with the deputy mayor of Chernihiv, the mayor being away and not being able to see us. In Chernihiv we not only met with the director Medical Services but enjoyed his company for a day at the dacha of the head of Pediatric Services in Chernihiv. As on our first trip, we were interviewed by the press and appeared on television.
Much was accomplished with people of integrity and new leaders who love their country and want to turn it around. While talking with Parliamentary Legal Department heads across the street from the Parliamentary Assembly Hall we were able to raise our conversation to a spiritual level describing biblically what it will take to turn Ukraine around. For example, by just obeying the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Steal" would quickly raise the living standard for all. We went further to describe the Christianity that Maurice and I both represent. We felt that our words were listened to carefully.
Maurice and I are proud to be part of the rebuilding process and who want to help restore and rebuild the damage that we have done to ourselves not only physically, but with what has to be done spiritually.
We were able to share our first translations in Russian to our friends which were enthusiastically received. An offer by them was made to further translate the articles into Ukrainian.
The head of Mission Nazareth also came to to Kyiv to consult with us about the problem of relocating refugees from Tajikistan to Ukraine. The Sabbatarians have no literature as yet, but want to call their first periodical the Good News.
As he always does, Maurice Frohn, the surgeon, cuts deep into the heart and soul of Ukrainian life bringing out a beautiful description of our our impressions which we wish to share with you.
Victor Kubik