As part of the international Partnership Program for Hospitals titled “Emergency Measures in the Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases”, proposed by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), a grant was awarded to provide diagnostic equipment for infectious disease diagnostics in the Poltava region. On the German side, key contributors to the project development included Professor Ulf Dittmer, Director of the Institute of Virology, Dr. Gennadiy Zelinsky, Ursula Schrammel, Project Coordinator. From the Ukrainian side, the project was coordinated by Professor Ihor Kaidashev, Professor Tetiana Koval and Iryna Shkurupiy. The collaboration culminated in the signing of a cooperation agreement for the project’s implementation. This agreement was signed by Professor Barbara Albert, Rector of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Professor Viacheslav Zhdan, Rector of Poltava State Medical University and Thorsten Kaatze, representing the leadership of the Essen University Hospital.

This partnership with Germany and other European collaborators demonstrates that the medical field can serve as a bridge to deeper integration, peace, and prosperity, even amidst significant historical challenges. Initiatives like GIZ’s international programs and collaborations between clinics, universities, institutes, and professionals from both countries represent more than isolated episodes of cooperation; they form a crucial element of sustainable development and a step closer to the European community. In December 2024, a new scientific and practical project led by an international team of researchers from partner universities was launched, marking another milestone in this fruitful collaboration.