Humanitarian mission in Ukraine – SPRING 2024
Bohdan BurkoTchernivtsy Region
The Emergency Medicine Championship on May 23-24, the first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, provided a unique opportunity for us to meet and exchange with teams from across Ukraine, their instructors, regional emergency medicine officials, representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, and the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine.
The carefully designed challenges and interactive mannequins used during the simulations allowed for the recreation of rescue scenarios very close to reality, highlighting certain gaps in training.
Discussions on the issues and possible solutions continued with the teams, instructors, and regional officials throughout these two intense days.
The teams also exchanged information on training materials, types of ambulances, and the equipment best suited for their work.
The strength of this championship also lay in the involvement of the National Police and the Emergency Services during the events, which allowed for the realistic simulation of intervention conditions, with remarkable participation from the responders.
The Emergency Services had set up their field kitchen, which became a popular gathering place for the participants.
In parallel, discussions with our partners—the Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine Council, the Ministry of Health, and the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center for Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine—focused on the reform of emergency medicine and the implementation of standardized training for all regional centers.
Lviv Region
Located in the western part of Ukraine, near the border with Poland, the Lviv region plays a crucial role in hosting internally displaced persons and patients from affected areas. Being far from the front line, it hosts numerous humanitarian hubs and welcomes various international initiatives and delegations.
As part of our training activities, we are launching several Franco-Ukrainian medical cooperation projects.
1. Cooperation between French and Ukrainian Paramedics
Ukrainian Emergency and Disaster Medicine is highly interested in exchanges with their French counterparts regarding the training provided to personnel. The ongoing reform will bring Ukrainian teams closer to their Western counterparts in terms of team composition and intervention management.
The French experience is therefore very valuable, and the management of Harmonie Ambulance is responsive to this need. It includes certified trainers and has already conducted several humanitarian convoys in the Lviv region. The delivery of ambulances from the latest convoy was followed by a visit to the Emergency and Disaster Medicine Training Center in Lviv, where discussions took place regarding the feasibility of this project.
2. Inter-Hospital Cooperation between the Poitiers University Hospital and the First Medical Territorial Group of Lviv
The cooperation between these two medical institutions emerged from our deep understanding of their respective competencies. In response to the training needs expressed by our Ukrainian partners, we naturally turned to the Poitiers University Hospital, our long-standing partner of 10 years.
During this mission, exchanges with the Radiology, Infection Control departments, and the Rehabilitation Center allowed for adjustments to the project in preparation for its launch. The visit of two Ukrainian doctors to Poitiers marked the beginning of this cooperation, which will be further enriched by additional exchanges. Ukrainian hospitals have a genuine need for this support.
The visit of two Ukrainian doctors to the Poitiers University Hospital. From May 19 to June 5, 2024, two doctors from the First Medical Group of Lviv were hosted at the Poitiers University Hospital for training in emergency radiology.
Testimony from Prof. Rémy Guillevin from the Medical Imaging Department at Poitiers University Hospital:
“I believe it is important for hospitals to mobilize during this very dark period that Europe is going through. France has mobilized through the voice of its president and its active forces. It is crucial that we contribute to this effort on a medical level. Ukrainians are facing great difficulties due to the shortage of human resources to cope with the medical consequences of the war. We find it only natural to participate in the effort of training and hosting, and to demonstrate our solidarity in this way. It’s not much, but it’s important to do it. If each of us contributes a little, we will achieve effective collective support.”
Dnipropetrovsk Region
Continuation of Humanitarian Cooperation with the Dnipro Regional Council.
During this mission, three ambulances were delivered to the Emergency Situations Service of the Dnipro region. We were able to discuss with the Regional Council the current challenges in the region and the assistance that has already been provided as part of our cooperation.
We thank the Alstom Foundation for financing the purchase of a new Ford Ranger 4×4 ambulance, intended for the Pyrotechnic Works and Humanitarian Demining Unit, as well as the Harmonie Ambulance company for donating two Mercedes ambulances for emergency response teams.
The Regional Council is deeply concerned about the worsening situation due to the bombings of critical infrastructure and has expressed gratitude for the assistance provided in the form of generators for medical and social facilities in the region, as well as heating devices for equipping air-raid shelters.
We continue our support for this region by delivering medical vehicles, medicines, and medical equipment, and by installing potable water filtration systems in the areas affected by the Kakhovka dam explosion.
Zaporijjia Region
The Zaporijjia region is heavily impacted by the war, with 70% of its territory under occupation and several cities regularly bombarded. The meeting with the Zaporijjia regional administration focused on aid to medical facilities and issues related to heating autonomy.
Thanks to funding from the Île-de-France region, we were able to supply hospitals and maternity wards in Zaporijjia with perinatal and surgical equipment. Deliveries of medicines and medical supplies are also being made directly to the hospitals.
However, there is a lack of regional coordination to simplify logistics and ensure connection with a broader network of hospitals. The regional administration expressed interest in a partnership, promising the availability of a humanitarian warehouse in Zaporizhzhia and the involvement of coordinators from the administration and the health department.
The visit to the city of Orikhiv revealed the harsh reality faced by these bombarded towns. The shelling has destroyed hospitals, schools, and the infrastructure of Orikhiv. Even the humanitarian hub was targeted in July 2023, resulting in the death of seven people.
The teams from the Emergency Situations Service (DSNS) have become a humanitarian lifeline for this city, distributing humanitarian aid and technical water twice a week. Potable water is occasionally provided depending on donations, and medical evacuations are also carried out.
Our association provided the Orikhiv DSNS with a Toyota 4×4 ambulance for medical evacuations and emergency response during shelling.
The purpose of this mission was to approve the project for the installation of two filtration systems, so that the populations of the towns of Orikhiv and Huliaipole can have access to potable water on-site, without relying on irregular external deliveries.
Mykolaïv Region
Heavily bombarded and partially occupied in 2022, the Mykolaïv region is in need of medical support and access to potable water due to the destruction caused by the fighting and the Kakhovka dam explosion.
Our mission in this region took place across several sites to assess urgent needs and establish the necessary connections to successfully carry out our projects.
Regional development agency of the Mykolaïv Regional Council:
The meeting with Director Eugene Babkov and his team allowed for discussions on the region’s needs and the assistance already provided by our association and other NGOs, as well as the future development of our humanitarian actions.
Children’s hospital and Regional Clinical Hospital:
The staff of these hospitals has endured extremely difficult times. They have kept medical services accessible at all costs, even when only 10% of the original population remained due to bombings and fighting. We will continue to support these two important regional hospitals.
State Emergency Service:
Discussions were held with the head, Mykola Panasenko, regarding the needs for demining equipment and ambulances suited for rough terrain. The demining of Ukrainian territory is a significant challenge for both local and international actors. We are providing 4×4 ambulances to support their field missions, and ongoing discussions are focused on supplying demining equipment and additional training.
City of Mykolaiv:
Assessment of Needs and Solutions for Access to Potable Water. The city has been without potable water since April 2022, as Russian forces destroyed the pipelines supplying this city of 300,000 inhabitants.
Points of potable water distribution based on reverse osmosis filtration systems were examined. Managing these systems represents a significant cost for the city, estimated at €900,000 per year, and ensuring the regular maintenance of those managed by NGOs is challenging. This cost cannot be passed on to the consumer since the water is freely accessible.
A discussion is needed on optimizing costs and ensuring regular maintenance.
Shevchenkivska and Radsadivska Territorial Communities:
Restoration of Access to Potable Water. During this mission, the water towers in Zelenyi Hai (1,000 inhabitants, including internally displaced persons) and Kozyrka (1,133 inhabitants, including 150 internally displaced persons) were inspected.
Damaged by shelling and already very outdated, these water towers need to be replaced quickly.
The installation of a potable water filtration and distribution system in Kozyrka has been confirmed. The local councils have committed to facilitating the installation work and ensuring the maintenance of the water towers and filtration stations.
