During her working visit to the Republic of Latvia, the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk met with the newly appointed Minister of Health of Latvia Hosams Abu Meri.
The main issue of the meeting was the importance of continuing the treatment and rehabilitation programme for Ukrainian soldiers.
On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, the Vice-Speaker thanked Latvia for its hospitality, providing specialists, medical and rehabilitation infrastructure for the needs of wounded Ukrainian defenders.
"Already 237 Ukrainian servicemen have received treatment and rehabilitation assistance in Latvia, in particular, at the Vaivari National Rehabilitation Centre. We see really positive results of such rehabilitation. I appealed to Mr Minister and the Latvian Government to continue this programme next year," said Olena Kondratiuk.
She also thanked the Government of Latvia for the decision to donate 67 ambulances for Ukrainian medical institutions, police and the Armed Forces, 30 of which have already been delivered to Ukraine and save lives of civilians and our defenders every day.
The Minister of Health of Latvia Hosams Abu Meri, for his part, assured his Ukrainian counterpart that Latvia would continue to provide support to Ukraine in all areas, including the medical sector.
In addition, the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine raised another extremely urgent need in her conversation with Hosams Abu Meri — psychological assistance and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children affected by the russian war. In particular, the illegally deported children and teenagers who were rescued from russian captivity and returned to Ukraine.
She expressed hope that friendly Latvia would help restore their mental health.