Medication & Supplies Aid International Medical Corps’ Ukraine Relief

By Kaitlyn Nuebel

Fourteen-and-a-half million people in need of health assistance, 747 attacks on health facilities -- these are just a couple of tallies that mark the devastation caused by the war in Ukraine. Even the most precise statistics, though, cannot capture its complete toll on Ukrainians.

As on-the-ground healthcare workers in Ukraine spend long days providing medical care, they contend with widespread power outages, water outages and supply shortages that make their jobs even more difficult. Many of these obstacles are not new.

Prior to Russia’s February invasion, the International Medical Corps (IMC) provided mobile health services in southeast Ukraine. It responded to the crisis by quickly redeploying staff throughout the country and reaching out to other organizations to help scale operations. However, even with enough medical providers on-the-ground, supply chain interruptions and closed pharmacies made it difficult for on-the-ground organizations to acquire the supplies they needed.

A grant from Brothers’ Brother Foundation procured and distributed essential medicines and medical supplies to two health facilities in Kyiv: Irpin Policlinic and Bucha Ambulatory. Access to antifungal medication, Lidocaine, and face shield visors –just a few of the supplies purchased – allowed healthcare workers to spend less time securing supplies and more time tending to the overwhelming health crisis one patient at a time. This has made all the difference; in the months of May and June, Irpin Policlinic and Bucha Ambulatory conducted 9,400 and 3,200 consultations a month, respectively.

“Seeing the devastation this war has brought, I’m so grateful we can be here and provide support for these hospitals. The health staff is working overtime to tend to all the patients and at least we are helping to make this situation more bearable,” said Dr. Michelle Gonnet, medical emergency response team coordinator for the Kyiv region.