LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (08/10/97)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Diabetes Project awaits response from Air Ukraine

Dear Editor:

Since 1993 the Ukrainian Diabetes Project medical team has been flying Air Ukraine into Kyiv as part of our humanitarian aid program. Previously we flew Aeroflot, as Air Ukraine had not yet existed.

Our medical team consists of anywhere between three and 10 members. Our program, as many know, provides insulin, syringes, blood-testing strips, instructional manuals and hours of diabetes education to children with diabetes each summer in many regions of Ukraine. We have served 1,364 children over the past eight years. Our program is completely volunteer-based from our fund-raising projects to the time we spend educating children in Ukraine.

Our program not only emphasizes diabetes management, but also supports Ukrainian society. The diabetes manual we published was translated into Ukrainian. We insist on the Ukrainian language in our clinics, and we try to support the Ukrainian economy by using Ukrainian businesses in our program when necessary. This is one reason we have always chosen to fly Air Ukraine.

Flying Air Ukraine has not always been easy. Last summer, especially, we had great difficulty. One of our members was bumped off a flight that was overbooked. Air Ukraine was unable to accommodate her, and she was forced to purchase another ticket on another airline to get home. The Air Ukraine agent in Kyiv said her money would be refunded by the New York office, since this is where her ticket originated.

Since October of 1996 we have tried contacting Air Ukraine in New York to receive our refund. We were sent $90 and to this day are unsure why. The ticket that was purchased cost $729. Our travel agent has made numerous phone calls to Air Ukraine for an explanation. She has faxed messages, wrote letters, sent certified mail to the U.S. general manager, Mykola Kravets, and placed person-to-person phone calls to Mr. Kravets with the same result: no response.

I personally have made over 25 phone calls to Air Ukraine. I have spoken with Marina, Irina and Stefan with the same responses: "I'll check with someone and call you back tomorrow," "the person who can make this decision is in Kyiv, call back in a week," "call back tomorrow," "call back in 30 minutes," "call back after lunch," "s/he's not in the office today, call on Wednesday," "they're at the airport today, call tomorrow," "I'll check into it and call you back." Not once did anyone from Air Ukraine return my calls. When I called them back, I was given the run-around.

Finally, I wrote to Ambassador Yuri Shcherbak, asking him to intervene as the Embassy of Ukraine represents Ukrainian people and business. His response to me was that it was not something the Embassy handles and I should take Air Ukraine to court and settle it legally.

Frankly I'm sick and tired of Air Ukraine's lack of response or explanation. I would gladly take it up legally, but it's very difficult going to court out of state. Our office is based in California and we are all volunteers. I'm disgusted with Air Ukraine's poor business practices - ignore it and it will go away. Our travel agent will no longer recommend Air Ukraine as a carrier. After all, there are many other airlines that fly into Kyiv. Our program will no longer use Air Ukraine as a carrier, at least not until we receive some explanation and a refund for $729 (minus the $90).

I only wish this story had a better ending. I can say that the Ukrainian Diabetes Project continues its program, making great strides in improving the health care of children with diabetes - despite the obstacles it runs up against.

Andrea Skrypka
Windsor, Calif.

The writer is project director of the Ukrainian Diabetes Project.

Ukraine's women seldom in leadership positions

Dear Editor:

Taras Kuzio's "Ukraine Changes Prime Ministers Again," (July 13) illustrated to me once more how seldom one sees women in top leadership positions in Ukraine. From my dealings with Ukrainians from Ukraine, I know there are many highly qualified women in Ukraine in every field. However, these women for some reason are not tapped for top leadership positions.

Since women are often the ones who have to deal with the day-to-day economic and social survival, inclusion of women in top leadership positions in Ukraine could bring a degree of pragmatism, not always apparent to men, to the national level in Ukraine.

Nadia M. Derkach
San Francisco

The letter writer is former behavioral sciences officer, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Washington.

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