Devon helps deliver over 1.1M medical training and supplies to Ukraine
Devon-based World Extreme Medicine, the world’s largest global medic network, is sending a fourth convoy to Ukraine to deliver medical training and urgently needed medical supplies directly into the war-torn country.
The initiative, known as Medics4Ukraine, was set up by WEM founder Mark Hannaford earlier in the year in response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
The first convoy arrived in Ukraine in April to deliver trauma kits and hard-to-obtain medical supplies as an act of solidarity with medics dealing with an ever-growing number of casualties. But it didn’t stop there, and to date, there have been two further convoys delivering medical supplies in excess of £1.1M – not including the value of the upcoming convoy.
Alongside the supplies, which include trauma kits, defibrillators, field dressings, compression bandages and tourniquets, chest seals, ventilators and combat stretchers for use on the frontline in field hospitals, the organisation is providing crucial training to Ukrainian medics.
Mark explained: “Preparation for the fourth Medics4Ukraine convoy is in full swing and will be setting off shortly. Our highly experienced team aims to provide training for a further 300 plus soldiers and combat medics, and we will be delivering medication to several hospitals.”
For this latest mission, a WEM training team headed up by Manchester-based paramedic Luca Alfatti will be training Special Operations medics in two key areas of Ukraine.
“The people of Ukraine are continuing to battle the Goliath on their doorstep, something they are doing with surprisingly good humour and a resolute outlook,” Mark added.
“With our convoys we are taking an A-team approach - fast, effective and targeted - to provide support to those at the very heart of the fighting who are dealing every day with injuries caused by indiscriminate bombing – such as at the shopping centre in Kremenchuk when at least 20 died and dozens were injured.”
As part of the next mission, Mark is joining internationally renowned photographer Perou whose pictures will document the situation at a military and a paediatric hospital, highlighting the injuries sustained by soldiers and civilians including children.
Speaking of his experience on a previous convoy, Perou stated: “Farmers, cooks, policemen and programmers – their lives, families and their well-mapped futures derailed by an unprovoked invasion – gathered to share their experiences with the Medics4Ukraine team, honouring us by allowing our training team to refresh their battlefield medicine skills before their deployment to the frontline.”
World Extreme Medicine has drawn on the experience of its previous convoys to Syria and Myanmar to ensure the Ukraine convoys deliver exactly what is needed, where it is needed. Medical aid has either been donated by supporters or purchased through fundraising – which has now reached almost £60,000. 100 percent of these funds are used to purchase much-needed medical supplies. World Extreme Medicine underwrites all transport costs.
Mark added: “Everything we’ve achieved so far has been made possible with the backing of our local Ukrainian supporters, donors and generous partners. We know so many people have been open-handed already, we can only ask them to dig deep once again to help us deliver these critical supplies.
