The Ukraine

Projects supporting the people of Ukraine

The Ukraine - Medical equipment on its way to the Ukraine

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Upper Eden Rotary were approached in early in 2024 by the charity Arrhythmia Alliance Pace4Life who were seeking assistance for the shipment of a large quantity of surplus medical goods to the main Heart Hospital in Kyiv.

The Charity had amassed a huge amount of goods from various hospitals ranging from knee braces through to specialist heart surgery equipment but were struggling with the logistics of safely getting them out to Kyiv.

Upper Eden Rotary rose to the challenge and using its international network of contacts arranged for UK-Aid (who work closely with the North of London Rotary Club) to collect the goods and handle the shipment.

Prior to shipment Rotarians sorted the equipment removing any out-of-date items and preparing an inventory of the 144 boxes with an estimated value of upwards of £100,000. The goods are scheduled for the delivery direct to Kyiv by mid-October.

Workington Rotary Club plus members from Bassenthwaite & Cockermouth Rotary Clubs loaded onto a transport vehicle 100 brand new beds, mattresses and drug stands along with 80 camp beds that were left over from the COVID pandemic. These will be used in the Ukraine to set up field hospitals for injured military personnel on the front line.

In April 2024 our Immediate Past District Governor Pam Holgate introduced a practical hands on project at Rotafest, our Annual District Conference. The aim was to pack 200 shoeboxes which were then to be sent over to the Ukraine with the help of International Aid Trust. Clubs were also encouraged to donate the contents including toiletries, stationery, gloves, games, sewing kit and other small items.

The following video is a thank you from those in Ukraine who have now received the Shoeboxes.

In 2023 Workington Rotarian Ken Kirkwood arranged for the collection of dental surgery equipment from a Dental Practice in North Cumbria that was relocating, and as a result surplus to requirements. Transport for the equipment was arranged down to London and then by DentAid, the Dental Charity onwards to Urhgorod in the Ukraine. In addition 40 tons of medical equipment including beds, walking frames, wheelchairs and surgical equipment, that was either surplus to requirements or donated, was also included in the transport arrangements.

Ken and his colleague Brian Earley flew out to the Ukraine to supervise events at the other end to ensure that the equipment was put to good use. Urhgorod is in western Ukraine, at the border with Slovakia and near the border with Hungary.