First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska began her visit to the Czech Republic with a meeting with the country’s First Lady Eva Pavlová.
The presidential spouses shared their expectations from the Healthcare Initiative for Ukraine conference. Olena Zelenska noted that the Czech Republic is already doing a great deal to help save lives in Ukraine. In particular, through the Ukraine Investment Framework project, it is working on the renovation and modernization of six hospitals – in Volyn, Dnipro, Kyiv, Lviv, and Rivne regions.
“We expect tangible results from this conference for our patients, doctors, and clinics – especially new agreements on medical partnerships,” said the First Lady of Ukraine.
The meeting also touched on the Czech Republic’s accession to the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies. Memorandums between Ukrainian and Czech higher education institutions are to be signed on Monday.
“There will be more Ukrainian studies in higher education institutions, which means more objective information about Ukraine. This effort will also be supported by the opening of a Ukrainian bookshelf at the country’s national library,” the President’s wife noted.
The First Ladies of Ukraine and the Czech Republic also agreed on cooperation between their countries in the field of mental health.
In the presence of Olena Zelenska and Eva Pavlová, Ministers of Health Viktor Liashko and Vlastimil Válek signed a memorandum between the Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers, which oversees the implementation of the national mental health program “How Are You?”, and the Czech Republic’s National Institute of Mental Health.
“Ukraine has accumulated unique experience in responding to the challenges of war – both at the national level and within communities, where mental health services are taking root. The partnership between ‘How Are You?’ and the National Institute of Mental Health in the Czech Republic – which brings together science, practical work, and policy development into one living and effective model of change – will make it possible to reflect on this experience, adapt international practices, and develop new approaches to resilience,” said Olena Zelenska.
The aim of the cooperation is to support the establishment of a national scientific and analytical center that will unite expertise, research, and innovative approaches in addressing war-related trauma.
This collaboration between the two countries will take place within the framework of the Medevac program – a Czech government initiative to support countries facing humanitarian challenges.