Ukraine: online-media: “FC “Shakhtar”, official website”, 17 May, 2007 14:04
WWW: http://shakhtar.com/cgi-bin/fc-sh/allnews.pl?id=4536 
 
SCM’s Foundation for Development of Ukraine headed by President of FC Shakhtar Rinat Akhmetov has officially launched a national project “Stop TB” that pursues eradication of TB epidemic in Ukraine. The project was presented on 16 May in Donetsk Donbass Palace Hotel followed by signing of Ukraine Without TB Memorandum, which calls all interested parties to join the project.
 
Speaking at the event, representatives of all governments and NGOs underlined the importance of the problem, eradication of which is the target for the Foundation for Development of Ukraine. Two Shakhtar footballers Bohdan Shust and Elano attended the ceremony too.
 
President of FC Shakhtar Rinat Akhmetov: 
 
- “Tuberculosis is a national disaster. This infection can slam into every house, every family. No one is safe from it. Just think about the following figures: Ukraine numbers 600,000 only registered TB-infected people, with 120,000 of them having an open TB. Every year adds another 40,000. They say if you want to understand another person, you should be in his place. I am well aware what TB is. Unfortunately, my family suffered from this disaster too. My brother had a serious form of TB. He has just a half of lung left. We were fighting with the whole family for him, every day, every hour, every second. And only because of that did he defeat TB. What can we do to eliminate the disease? First, we need to admit that TB is a national disaster. Second, we need to consolidate our efforts. Third, and the most important, we need to manage the process of fighting against TB effectively. And I am strongly convinced that with all that we will not just be fighting against TB, but we will defeat it.
 
Elano:
 
- Everything we have heard here is of crucial importance as it concerns health of people, firstly health of children. This problem concerns everyone. I’d like to congratulate the President on the launch of the project, and I am happy to have taken part in today’s event. I know how important it is for Ukraine. 
 
Brazil has seen an epidemic too. It is not that burning today, but if we cease our measures, difficulties may arise again. That is why everything being done here is very good, first of all for Ukraine, and for the whole world. 
 
I am a sportsman and my primary task is to play football well, but apart from that I am trying to assist people from my country in tackling similar problems. I have created a cancer-fighting foundation and since I have some funds I am ready to help my country. I know my contribution is not that big, but we have to start with something anyway.
 
Bohdan Shust:
 
- I am very much grateful for the invitation to come here. I don’t know much about medicine and I had no idea of how burning the problem of TB is. But the speakers today convinced me of how important it is to combat TB. I think everybody present here realized how serious the problem is.
 
I know that Rinat Akhmetov is a maximalist. He goes all the way through and never gives up. So, I strongly believe that the Foundation will fulfil the task and defeat TB. This is not a fight you can lead alone. Let's hope that consolidated efforts of the public, authorities, and business will help stop TB.