USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia Douglas Menarchik Visits Ukraine to Learn about USAID Programs in Crimea

USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia Doug Menarchik receives a plaque from Valeriy Saratov, Head of the Sevastopol City Council. September 22, 2008. From September 14-16, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia Doug Menarchik visited Simferopol and Sevastopol to learn about USAID’s programs in Crimea.  In Simferopol, Menarchik visited the Maternity Hospital #2, a Maternity and Infant Health Excellence Center, created through USAID’s Maternal and Infant Health project, which implements evidence-based perinatal care in 18 regions of Ukraine.  He met with Simferopol-based media to learn about the current political and media situation in Crimea.  During a working lunch with Alumni of the USAID’s Community Connections program, Menarchik discussed issues related to the public health sector in Ukraine, specifically, effective ways to fight HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in Crimea. In Sevastopol, Menarchik met with city authorities, as well as representatives of the business community and city council to discuss the city’s experience with the technical assistance provided by USAID’s Local Economic Development project.  Valeriy Saratov, Head of the Sevastopol City Council, expressed his gratitude for USAID’s support and satisfaction with the strategic planning process’s results.  Menarchik and Saratov discussed additional technical assistance USAID might provide to the city.  The Head of the Sevastopol City Council expressed his interest for future collaboration in projects related to waste water treatment and fighting corruption.  Menarchik reassured city officials and leaders of the United States’ commitment to the welfare, and economic stability and growth of Crimea.

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