Donetsk, Oct 23 - DAN. The Donetsk People’s Republic Maternity and Childhood Centre has provided assistance to 371 women from Kiev-controlled part of the Donetsk region since last winter, the DPR Health Care Ministry press service reported on Tuesday.

“Medics of the republican Maternity and Childhood Centre have provided assistance in gynaecological surgery/obstetrics to 183 women since February 2017; 188 patients with long-awaited babies have been discharged from hospital,” the report said.

The demand for  assistance under the aegis of the humanitarian programme increases each year. According to the Ministry, 158 people received help at the Centre in 2017 compared with 213 in 2018.

“I came to the DPR Maternity and Childhood Centre hoping for quality assistance; medical personnel in my home town were afraid to take up my case. I wish to extend a huge thank you to the doctors,” said Irina, a resident of Mariupol.

On February 17, 2017 the Donetsk People’s Republic launched launched the Donbass people reunification programme to support socially vulnerable groups of the population. The health care segment of the programme envisions medical assistance in 12 fields including obstetrics, chemotherapy and prosthetics. *jk