Medical equipment is going to save lives in Ukraine

A TALLAGHT doctor is part of a small team of Ireland-based Ukrainian medical professionals who are assisting with the transport of donated medical equipment to doctors and hospitals in Ukraine.

Dr Kateryna Kachurets, who works as a GP in the Glenview Clinic in Tallaght, moved to Ireland from Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, six years ago to complete her medical training as a GP.

When the war in Ukraine broke out in late February, Dr Kachurets and other Ireland-based Ukrainian medical professionals set up Medical Help Ukraine, in order to provide medical equipment to staff and hospitals in the besieged country.

“The day after the invasion, we established Medical Help Ukraine – we’re six doctors in Ireland, ranging from GPs to consultants, who are all originally from Ukraine,” Dr Kachurets told The Echo.

“We all gathered together, sat down at a table and decided we wanted to do something in an organised fashion.”

Within a week of setting up Medical Help Ukraine, the doctors had sent their first shipment of donated medical equipment to Ukraine.

The items are transported to a warehouse on the Ukrainian side of the border between Poland and Ukraine, where teams of Ukrainian doctors sort through the donations and send them to the facilities that most need them.

In the past week, the group shipped three trucks of medical equipment donated by the HSE, while in previous weeks donated equipment was supplied by the Lifeline Ambulance Service, Blackrock Health, Bons Secours Health System Ireland, UPMC Ireland, and the Mater Private Network.

Dr Kateryna Kachuret helping to load donated equipment

“Every week, we get updates from Ukrainian hospitals about what equipment they need,” said Dr Kachurets.

“At the start, it was mainly medication that they needed, but when hospitals started being shelled and bombed the need for equipment started to rise.

“Last week, we shipped three trucks of medical equipment, with things like portable X-ray machines, ventilators, baby incubators, ultrasound equipment, syringe pumps and intubation equipment.

“As doctors, this is our area of expertise and we can imagine what it’s like on the other side as a doctor in Ukraine, having the knowledge and the skills but not being able to help because of a lack of equipment.”

The group receives reports back from the hospitals and medical staff that receive the donated equipment, and they have repeatedly been told the equipment will save many lives.

“We get a lot of official letters from the hospitals, saying the equipment is going to save lives,” said Dr Kachurets.

“We’re getting so many letters from so many different hospitals, and they’ve said it means a lot to them to know they’re supported by Ireland, and that they’re not alone in this.”

On a personal level, Dr Kachurets said she still has family in Ukraine, while her mother fled Kyiv three weeks ago and is now living with her in Ireland.

She’s unsure of when the war will end, but said that, for as long as it’s needed, Medical Help Ukraine will continue to support medical staff in the region.

“We’re aiming to do this for as long as our help is needed,” explained Dr Kachurets. “For as long as there’s a need for this – and I think it will be needed for a very long time – we’ll do it.”

For further information about Medical Help Ukraine, including information on how to donate, visit HERE.