Lake Country Medical Aid for Ukraine (LCMAU) has spearheaded fundraising efforts and raised more than $157,000 through generous donor contributions. But the need continues for financial support to replace dwindling medical supplies and services throughout the war-torn country.
Six months have passed since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The halfyear mark officially arrived Aug. 24, somewhat ironically on Ukraine’s Independence Day, the 31st anniversary of the nation’s separation from the Soviet Union.
Despite growing tensions amid the raging war and more than five million of 40-million Ukrainian residents being displaced, thousands filled the streets of Kyiv bearing marks of Ukrainian pride. These celebrations continued across Europe, as many gathered and pledged unwavering support for the country.
Meanwhile, more than 869 medical facilities (30 percent of all facilities) have been damaged or destroyed throughout the country. Ukraine continues to experience a catastrophic need for medical supplies and humanitarian aid as the war continues into its seventh month with no end in sight.
In an ongoing effort to show support for Ukraine, the Lake Country community has rallied together with a primary goal of sending desperately needed medical supplies to Ukraine. LCMAU has been humbled by and remains thankful for the support of the community, as an additional $37,000 has recently been raised, increasing the total to $157,000 in support of the Ukrainian people.
To make the most of these donations, LCMAU has partnered with Heal Ukraine Group (HUG) and Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) to deliver medical supplies into the warzone as quickly as possible. The HUG group is a coalition of Boston-based healthcare professionals working to provide critically needed medical supplies, lifesaving intervention, and education directly and accountably to the frontlines, where the search for and treatment of survivors continues.
Through this collaboration with HUG, donated medical supplies have already been delivered to many hard-working doctors and paramedics on the frontlines in Ukraine.
After receiving desperately needed requests from four locations in Ukraine, LCMAU allocated $20,000 (the first of two financial tranches) to HUG and GMKA. With these funds, more than 700 items were purchased and shipped on July 22, from Boston to Ukraine. The first group of supplies arrived on July 24 and were delivered to four different medical facilities between July 26 and Aug. 7.
This proof of principle test represents a huge success, with medical supplies delivered within two weeks or less of being requested by doctors in Ukraine, providing a great example of two grassroots organizations finding ways to cut through bureaucratic red tape.
Medical supplies were purchased at a 10- to 20-percent discount, then packed into large duffle bags and flown from Boston to Frankfurt and on to Warsaw by Delta, American, and United Airlines, which all allowed these large bags to be checked as luggage at no charge to the volunteers.
Once they arrived in Warsaw, another group of volunteers in Ukraine, including EMS personnel, delivered them into the warzone and directly to the doctors that requested them.
LCMAU received many testimonials, including the following from the medical director of Dnipro Regional Pediatric Hospital: “The surgical loupes (small magnification devices used for delicate medical procedures) that you (LCMAU and HUG) presented to our clinic are what our surgeons have long dreamed of. Thanks to you, our surgeons have successfully operated on a newborn child ... Once again, many thanks for your help, and if you have an opportunity to give further, we need more loupes and other materials.”
Based on this outcome, LCMAU allocated an additional $30,000 for medical supplies and is pleased to report they were delivered within the same 7-to-14-day window. Current plans are to allocate an additional $75,000 before the year’s end.
There remains a lot of work to do as LCMAU continues its support of the Ukrainian people. LCMAU will launch an online campaign in October to further raise awareness and funding. For more information or to donate to the cause, please visit LCMAU’s website at lakecountryaid. com.
Also, checks to LCMAU can be hand delivered or mailed to the LCMAU concierge office at 119 Harmony Crossing, Ste. 3, Eatonton, GA 31024.