"Children of TARARA" project
With pride, Cuba treats Chernobyl children
It is the story of Cuba's "Children of Chernobyl" project.
Day in and day out, since 1990, Cuba's revolutionary government has
maintained a program that ordinary citizens there point to with pride. It
has earned the deep respect of working people in Ukraine, but due to highly
selective news coverage stamped by Washington's information embargo; it is
virtually unknown in the United States.
Children who were exposed to radiation pollution from the Chernobyl nuclear
accident in the Ukraine in 1986 (which released 300 times the radiation
emitted by Washington's atomic attack on Hiroshima in 1945), have developed
many physiological defects which require special treatment. Cuban medical
authorities have agreed to provide services for many of the worst cases.
Tarara, Cuba
The effort was initiated by Cuban children, who donated their sprawling Jose'
Marti' Pioneer camp on the beaches of Tarara, near Habana del Este, as the
site for the project.
This beach-front town twenty kilometers east of downtown Havana was once a
resort area for the wealthy. After the Cuban revolution, it became a
recreational summer camp for Cuban children. In the past twenty years, the
ethnic makeup of Tarara has become heavily Ukrainian, as Ukrainian children
arrive by the thousands to receive treatment for illnesses related to the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Cuban specialists treat various cancers, kidney and thyroid ailments,
digestive and nervous disorders, and skin and gum diseases, which, many
scientists believe, have yet to peak in contaminated areas. We know that
Cuba has excellent doctors and health care system, but they are short on
medicines and supply, - it is very hard to work without tools...
Most patients come for 45-day stays, but some with serious illnesses have
lived here for years or have come back repeatedly. Cuba needs everything -
bread, milk, coffee, detergent, all kinds of clothes, pencils, paper, air
conditioners… They help, and they don't ask for money. This little country
has a great heart! How admirable is this selfless nation to deprive
themselves of what little they do have in order to help the children
desperately in need of it.
Those who want their donations to specifically extend to the efforts of
giving aid to the children in Tarara, please indicate that it’s meant for
"Children of Chernobyl" project.
Tarara
A trip to Tarara cannot but leave an indelible impression on the soul of
every man who has ever been there. Astonishing stories of intertwining
fates, recrudescence of hope, and extricated lives transpire before one’s
eyes...
In the early 90’s, misfortune crept into Mykola and Nina Rudenko’s family:
doctors diagnosed their only son, Volodymir, with Leukemia in the highest
stage. The chance for survival or recovery was estimated to be frightfully
slim. The family then lived in the city of Belaya Tserkov in Ukraine, the
area critically harmed by radioactive discharge caused by the Chernobyl
disaster. The parents, overcome with unceasing grief, took their son to
various medical facilities and doctors, but it was to no avail. An estimated
mere few months of life were left for their son. The opportunity to take
Volodymir to Cuba was the last hope for the desperate parents. A special
interstate Ukrainian-Cuban program [“Children of Chernobyl”] was being run
there for couple years already. Cuban doctors were selfless in their fight
for the lives of Ukrainian children who became victims of the horrendous
nuclear accident of Chernobyl.
Nina and her son came to the Cuban village of Tarara in November of 1992.
The next year, Mykola, the head of the family, faced the inevitability of
making a serious decision- to leave his job, house, relatives and friends in
Ukraine and join his nearest and dearest people, his wife and son, in Cuba.
Volodia’s health condition was still unstable, however, the family now had
what is most important - HOPE. Everything else did not matter. Having
arrived in Tarara, Mykola, who is a handyman and used to labor, immediately
started to work fixing plumbing equipment or electric wiring. Nina also
worked hard; most of the children came without parents, and there was always
plenty of work to do starting with repairing children’s clothes, and ending
with assisting mothers in childcare. Day after day, year after year…
Seventeen years have passed…(On the picture from left to right: Volodymir,
Natasha, Diana Maria, Mykola, Alexandr, and Nina.)
Today it is impossible to imagine Tarara without this family; Mykola has
been the Vice Director from the Ukrainian side for already several years;
Nina is the Chief of Household management. Several years ago their son
became friends with Natasha, who came to Tarara for treatment. Natasha was
suffering from psoriasis, but in a few months upon arrival her condition
improved so much that she had to leave Tarara. However, because of the
climate in Ukraine her health conditions became critical and required a new
course of treatment.
This time Volodymir and Natasha could not stand the thought of being parted
from one another and got married. This happy family gave Mykola and Nina
beautiful, healthy twin-grandchildren: son Alexandr and daughter Diana Maria.
Every sick child comes to Tarara with his own tragedy, hope, and destiny. And every child receives not only maximum attention, treatment, and care, but also a piece of Cuban HUMANITY; boundless kindness and selflessness. Usually the shortest treatment takes one and a half months, but terms are not the point. Cuban doctors make decisions on the place, and let kids stay as long as it takes to achieve positive results. Some children spend three months in Tarara, some - half a year or more. Length of stay in Tarara does not depend on how much money parents can pay for their kids’ treatment.
TREATMENT AND ALL REQUIRED MEDICINES, EXPENSIVE SURGERIES, FOOD, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT.
Ukraine, according to the agreement, pays only for the air fare to
Havana.
At the medical health-improving center “Tarara” children not only receive
medical help, but they also attend general education school and study there
in their native language. The school building was specially provided for
these children; teachers from Ukraine work there, the Cuban government pays
their salaries!
(On the picture: Valentina Myhailivna, School Principal)
“The Cubans gave us a bus for kids, and always arrange excursions to
museums, theaters, and amusement parks,”- Principal Valentina Myhailovna
tells me. This program has been in effect since March 29, 1990. It’s
surprising, but the program was not terminated during the so-called “special
period in a peaceful time” which took place from 1991 till 2005, when as the
result of USSR disintegration and straightening of US blockade in Cuba, the
state had to decrease the consumption of food and goods for its population,
for its own children! “During this so-called “special period” Cubans were
underfed - the situation was critical. However, children in Tarara always
had bread, milk, and rice,”- said old inhabitants as well as representatives
of Ukrainian Consulate in Cuba - Mykola Basha and his wife Ludmyla.
More than half of the kids sent to Cuba come from poverty-stricken families,
many of them are orphans - handicapped children who lived or still live in
the areas of heightened radiation and ecologically unfavorable areas of
Ukraine.
Anna Vasilenko came from Ukraine with her daughter Anna 14 months ago. “Anna has a difficult case of cerebral paralysis,” her mother says. “We had to go through numerous complicated surgeries to cure hypertension and spasticity. Since our arrival many things have changed. Anna began to walk; even though special equipment helps her to move her legs, it is already a triumphant accomplishment for us. We were provided with a special machine on huge wheels to work on her gross motor skills and build muscles. Cuban doctors found Anna’s hidden allergy to farinaceous foods and dairy products. As a result of a strict diet and intensive therapies, Anna’s speech has improved; moreover, besides Ukrainian language, Anna understands and even started speaking a little Spanish”, - tells me Anna’s mother with tears in her eyes.
Every mother dreams that her child will find their place in life- that he or she will be happy, successful, and healthy. We give children our all: power, soul, experience, love, and care.
Reality brings the parents of the kids “with special needs” to another world - a world of hope and possibilities - a world unknown to them before. “We dream that our child will learn how to eat or drink by himself or herself, and express his or her simplest needs. When the parent of a sick child realizes and accepts the fact that his kid has “special needs”, the struggle for his survival and place in this life begins. This struggle is life-long. Each new skill, each small improvement, each baby step forward requires daily laborious work … And at the same time it’s very important to learn not to think about the worst thing- what will happen to these children when their parents pass away?..” – continues Anna’s mom…
A horrible tragedy struck fifteen-year-old Maxim Miroshnik. Eighty percent of his skin burnt off in a fire. Sixty percent of his skin had to be grafted, one leg was amputated. The scolding hot temperature of the air burnt his lungs. His stomach, heart and pancreas were damaged severely. The entire sum of his family’s savings was spent on the treatment he received in Ukraine. This was only the beginning, however. Maxim required long-term medical treatment, including an extensive list of plastic surgeries and a full examination. Moreover, Maxim felt very self-conscious of his appearance, refused to come outside, and became increasingly nervous and irritable. On the brink of severe poverty, Maxim’s family turned to Cuban authorities for aid and a miracle 
happened: their request for help was acknowledged and granted; on the contrary, they were asked to come ASAP to start the treatment. Maxim came to Tarara two months ago. A full examination revealed nephrolits, and as of today Maxim is going through an intensive course of medical treatment to improve his general health and prepare him for a number of plastic surgeries on his face and body. Today Maxim feels significantly better: the splendid fresh air, beatific ocean, friendly and accepting attitudes of the other children and, of course, the superb Cuban doctors - everything inspires him to fight for life, love life and hope. Maxim stopped feeling self-conscious of his appearance enough to actually allow us to publish his pictures on our website without hesitation. Maxim’s mother attempted to comment on this miracle, but couldn’t help crying, the only two words I could make out were “we are forever thankful”.