Medical Help Ukraine: Ukrainian doctors lead initiative to deliver medical aid from Ireland to Ukraine

The emergency initiative is supported by the Ukrainian Embassy of Ireland, Lifeline Ambulance Services, the HSE, Private Hospitals and Ryanair

• An ambulance and two vans filled with medical equipment will leave Rosslare at 9.00pm on Wednesday, 2 March in the first delivery
• The Ukrainian Embassy in Ireland will facilitate the transportation to Ukraine through the Polish border
• The team are working with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and have direct links in multiple Ukrainian hospitals affected by the crisis
• Comment: “Ireland suffered great adversity and crises in the past. We are therefore confident that the Irish people understand the urgency of the current situation and the need for solidarity with Ukrainians.”

A group of Ukrainian doctors working in the Irish healthcare system have collectively established ‘Medical Help Ukraine’. It is an initiative to urgently deliver medical aid from Ireland to support the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Working together, Dr. Alexander Boychak (Consultant Radiation Oncologist, St. Lukes Oncology Network, Mater and Waterford University Hospital), Dr. Kateryna Kachurets (GP in South Dublin), Dr. Nataliya Kononenko (Consultant Occupational Health Physician at CIE Medical Department), Dr. Oksana Kozdoba (Paediatric Fellow in CHI Crumlin), Dr. Lyudmyla Zakharchenko (Consultant Paediatrician/Neonatologist in NMH), Dr. Iryna Surzhenko (Ophthalmology Registrar in RVEEH) as well as Dr. Lesia Gamorak (Geriatric Registrar, St. Mary’s Hospital) created the campaign with a view to sending emergency medical supplies in addition to ambulance cars to Ukrainian warzones.

The initiative is supported by the Ukrainian Embassy of Ireland, Lifeline Ambulance Services, the HSE, Blackrock Health. (Incorporating Blackrock Clinic, Galway Clinic, Hermitage Clinic and Limerick Clinic). Bons Secours Health System Ireland, UPMC Ireland, Mater Private Network, in addition to Ryanair. It will see the first delivery of an ambulance in addition to two vans of medical equipment leave Ireland on Wednesday 2, March.

These vehicles will leave Rosslare port at 9pm on Wednesday and will arrive in the Ukraine on Friday, 4 March. The Ukrainian Embassy in Ireland is helping to facilitate the transportation to Ukraine through the Polish border.

Ongoing Support                                                                                  

As part of the initiative, the Medical Help Ukraine organizers hope to continue to deliver an ongoing supply of medical equipment and ambulance cars to Ukrainian hospitals in active war zones who are in critical need of emergency supplies.

To achieve this, they are calling on the medical manufacturing community in Ireland to donate suitable equipment where possible.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up where members of the public can make donations to support the cause. [Link here]. The GoFundMe page has raised over €100,000 so far.

The group are also working closely with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. They have direct links in multiple Ukrainian hospitals affected by the crisis. Therefore, they will be able to focus on their most pressing needs.

Most importantly, all funds raised will go strictly towards assisting the Ukrainian citizens, who became victims of the conflict, as well as medical staff in their efforts to heal those wounded.

Comment

Commenting on the work that has been carried out, Dr. Alexander Boychak, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, St. Lukes Oncology Network, Mater and Waterford University Hospital, one of the organizers of Medical Help Ukraine said:

“On February 24th, Ukrainian cities woke up to a brutal campaign of bombing and violence. Thousands of innocent people have lost their lives, with the numbers injured and fatally wounded set to rise. There is now a humanitarian crisis in our homeland at the gates of the European Union. The number of casualties is rapidly overwhelming the Ukrainian health system. On top of this, attacks on the infrastructure in our country means there are critically low levels of medical supplies. Therefore, we want to do our part in helping.

“Ireland suffered great adversity and crises in the past. We are therefore confident that the Irish people understand the urgency of the current situation and the need for solidarity with Ukrainians. We would be grateful for any help that you could offer us in our efforts to organise humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.”

David Hall, CEO and founder of Lifeline Ambulance Service also added:

“At Lifeline Ambulance Services, we are pleased to be playing a role in supporting the Medical Help Ukraine campaign which will see much needed emergency medical supplies delivered to hospitals and healthcare professionals in active warzones in the Ukraine.

“To date, the support of this campaign from industry representatives, government, and the Ukrainian embassy of Ireland has played a crucial role in ensuring we can get this first delivery of supplies to the Ukraine. However, the work cannot stop here. Therefore to ensure Ireland can continue to deliver desperately needed medical supplies to the Ukraine, we are calling on the medical manufacturing community and the general public to provide support where they can. So any donation big or small, is welcomed.”

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