Hepatitis Outbreak
Stopped in Ukraine Orphanage
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 These
orphans were among the more than 100 boys who
were vaccinated.
 One
child bravely receives his shot.
 The
vaccine is unloaded from boxes after arrival at
the orphanage.
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Ukraine - Just over a week ago, an orphanage
for handicapped boys in rural Ukraine suffered a terrible
outbreak of Hepatitis A. Four boys were hospitalized,
and more than 100 other orphans were in danger of contracting
the virus.
When neither the orphanage nor the local government
could afford to buy the vaccinations necessary to protect
the other children, the staff panicked. The orphanage
director decided to reach out to the only other source
of help the orphanage had ever had – Operation
Blessing.
OBI had recently sent the
orphanage sports equipment for the boys to enjoy,
along with other support. So when word of the viral
outbreak reached Operation Blessing, OBI staff intervened
to help secure the vaccinations the orphans desperately
needed.
Within a single day’s time, the money was wired
to Ukraine, vaccinations were purchased and paid for,
and an OBI team was en route to the orphanage to administer
the medications.
Both the orphanage staff and the boys themselves were
overwhelmed. Amazed at the quick response and generosity
of OBI, a local government official even came to the
orphanage to watch as the boys received their vaccinations.
“Because of your help the children have received
the needed protection from this dangerous disease,” the
official told the Operation Blessing staff. “We
thank you for your understanding and participation and
hope for our continuous partnership in the future.”
And OBI’s commitment will indeed continue. From
the Orphan Training Center for teenage orphans, to meeting
ongoing and emergency needs like the Hepatitis A outbreak,
Operation Blessing will persist to see the needs of orphans
are met, in Ukraine and around the world.
How You Can Help
Operation Blessing is at a work year-around, helping
children and adults around the world. You can learn
more about OBI’s work with orphans or even
make an online donation
and help Operation Blessing continue life-changing work
such as this.
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