The Kings Bay YM-YWHA opened its doors to Project Chernobyl, the funding for which was spearheaded by Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, and which enabled 15 victims of the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster potentially in risk of thyroid cancer to undergo medical screening.
Project Chernobyl is a unique effort to help Chernobyl survivors by providing an early diagnosis and treatment. Weinstein and Dr. Igor Branovan, of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, took part in the session at the Kings Bay Y, 3610 Nostrand Avenue.
The Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 affected hundreds of thousands of people who lived in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Many of them have immigrated to New York ever since, and are in grave risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Weinstein led the efforts to secure $535,000 in state funding for this life-saving project. Dr. Branovan works closely with Weinstein and her colleagues in implementing this program.
