20221200 Ukraine Medical Help Fund

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To the Members of the December 2023
Standing Committee of European Doctors
European Forum of Medical Associations
World Medical Association
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
A difficult year is coming to a close, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for
your support, report on the achievements, and give an outlook on what might come.
Immediately after the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, our colleagues from the
Ukrainian Medical Association called for help. Soon it was clear that the healthcare system in a
country under attack would not only see a tremendous demand for medical care for the
wounded but also that healthcare structures themselves were under attack and sometimes
were destroyed.
On the other hand, we experienced an unprecedented spontaneous wave of help from our
members. We were grateful that the call for help reaching us was matched by a willingness to
donate. We collected nearly more than 2.7 million Euros in Aid from our members, individuals,
other persons and companies. Starting with a task force constituted by our members in the
neighbouring countries of Ukraine, France and Japan, we set up the Ukraine Medical Help Fund
beginning of March, which is run by our three roof organisations together. WMA Past-President
Dr Leonid Eidelman was asked to oversee the use of the fund.
Starting end of February 2022, we have now successfully delivered material aid to Ukraine,
including:
• Two major shipments of medicines and medical devices, mainly for trauma care,
• Birthing beds for a neonatal care centre in Mykolaiv,
• Intensive care materials for hospitals in the Cherkasy Region,
• Neurosurgical equipment for the neurosurgery department at the National Military
Medical Clinical Centre Kiev, and
• A large shipment of tourniquets for Odessa.
Ukraine Medical Help Fund
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We are currently assembling a third big delivery of trauma care medicines and medicinal
products, and we are awaiting the delivery of anaesthesia and ventilation equipment built by
Draeger in Germany for the neonatal care centre in Mykolaiv.
This week we also decided to support the acquisition of warming tents for those who have lost
the capability to heat their homes in the bombarded cities and we will assemble a fourth
shipment of medical materials beginning next year.
We are not alone. The assembly of the big material packages was guided by Dr Eidelman and
the team at the Israel Medical Association, which also sponsored the transport of goods to
Ukraine. We work with the help of the State Chambers of Physicians of Saxony and Hessia and
the humanitarian NGOs “Freedom to Ukraine” in Ukraine and “Hope for Ukraine” in Dresden,
Germany. Their cooperation in acquisition and transportation is greatly appreciated.
We are grateful for the financial support, most notably from the Japan Medical Association,
which, although far away from the warzone, stemmed the largest part of the donations. Not to
forget other big contributions of member associations and smaller, but nevertheless important
contributions from individuals and companies. Thank you for all this help!
However, as we all know, this is not over. We must continue our efforts. In this second phase,
we would like to mitigate the long-term medical damages that have occurred. We are currently
looking into advanced equipment for field surgery and prosthesis care for those who have lost
limbs in this conflict.
Therefore, we call on you not to give up. Please let’s continue to support our Ukrainian
colleagues and their work for their war-beaten people. Our engagement is still necessary, and
we guarantee that all funds will be used for the relief work we are doing in Ukraine. There will
be no overhead taken for our work or administration – all that comes in will be used to provide
medical help in Ukraine, from trauma care for wounded persons to the prevention of freezing.
Thank you for the help provided and your consideration to continue with us!
We wish you a Festive Season
And a good start in a hopefully
Healthy and Happy New Year!
Dr Christiaan Keijzer Adv. Leah Wapner Dr Osahon Enabulele
President Secretary General President
Standing Committee European Forum of World Medical
of European Doctors Medical Associations Associations