We have acquired pool of new surgical instruments from a large donation in kind. We regularly send the inventory to Ukrainian clinics, which can order instruments and tools from it. The appropriate items are then delivered to Ukraine free of charge.
In Russia's first Rocket attacks on the city of Kharkiv in Eastern Ukraine this year, several of our rescue service colleagues were injured by so-called double-tap strikes. This involves firing at a (civilian) target several times in intervals in an attempt to kill or injure rescue workers.
t has taken almost an eternity due to new customs regulations in Ukraine and the truckers' strike at the borders.
We don't send out Christmas cards or chocolates. We don't write annual reviews or bake biscuits. We are doing the same as usual - we are working on the next aid delivery.
Over the past year, we have delivered several mobile ultrasound devices to our partners in Ukraine. These are mostly used in emergency diagnostics (e.g. in the FAST protocol for the early detection of internal haemorrhages).
In 2022, 4-Ukraine involved in the creation of a Mobile Primary Health Care Unit (mobile medical practice) for the Ukrainian NGO "Basa_UA". This vehicle brings primary medical care to areas in Ukraine where the regular care system has been destroyed by the Russian invasion.
Winter has now arrived in Germany too. What often leads to romantic notions of a white Christmas there quickly becomes life-threatening here in Eastern Ukraine. Thousands of houses are still without rooves, windows, heating or electricity.
After handing over the last (for me personally) seriously injured patient in Dnipro and a brief scare due to the air raid on Pavlograd, there was time for a little lightness and a friendly farewell.
Today, we were surprised by a snowstorm on the way back after transporting a seriously injured patient in eastern Ukraine with our local colleagues. The transport routes are often several hundred kilometres, which can be challenging in fair weather.
Some time ago, the National Cancer Institute of Ukraine in Kyiv approached us and asked for surgical instruments. We were able to provide some of these from our "Instruments for the operating room" campaign. This part of the long list of requirements could now be delivered to the local institution.