Donetsk, Aug 10 - DAN. The first patient from Kiev-controlled part of Donetsk Region has had hip replacement surgery within the framework of the humanitarian programme to provide assistance to fellow countrymen, DPR Health Care Minsitry press service reported on Thursday.

“On 9 August, DPR’s Republican Traumatology Centre performed the first hip replacement surgery on a resident from Kiev-held territory, within the scope of the Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme,” the press service said.

The facility has all the necessary equipment for such operations, including vital signs monitors and syringe infusion pumps for continuous administration of drugs during intensive therapy, it added. Accrording to the Minsitry which arranged supplies of high-tech equipment, Ukrainian authorities had not upgraded it for 15 years.

“My name is Vladimir; I’m resident of Ukraine-controlled Yasinovatskiy district.  And I had hip replacement surgery at the Republican Traumotology Centre. “It passed well, I feel OK; I’m very grateful to all doctors and nurses at this hospital,” the Health Care Ministry press service quoted him as saying. No fees were charged for the treatment.

The man said his daughter had learnt about the humanitarian programme on the Internet. Earlier, he went to Kiev for medical assistance but could not afford it as it cost ten to 15 pensions put together.

On February 17, DPR and LPR Heads Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitskiy launched the Donbass people reunification programme. The main goal of the programme is to support socially vulnerable groups. The health care segment of the programme envisions medical assistance in seven fields including obstetrics, chemotherapy and prosthetics.*jk