Providing much-needed medical supplies to Ukraine

With communities under attack in need of support and medical supplies essential for hospitals, a 23-year-old in Bristol is determined to do what he can to help Ukraine.

If everything goes to plan, Huw Williams will soon embark on the long journey from Hengrove to Poland, carrying thousands of pounds worth of stock donated and purchased for the war-torn nation.

Once there, the items, which include incubation kits, defibrillators, carry chairs, rucksacks, sanitary products and more, will form the foundations of a new field hospital planned for the north of Ukraine.

Responding to calls for donations, organiser Huw won’t be told where the pop-up hospital is until just a few days before he sets off because the situation in Ukraine is so precarious.

Huw is a former ambulance driver who lives in Hengrove – photo: Betty Woolerton

“A big problem at the moment getting the right stuff to the right people. There’s an abundance of certain things – like bandages for example, but there’s no tape,” said the former ambulance driver.

Delving into Facebook groups, Huw, who lives in Hengrove, was able to contact International Medics for Ukraine who explained which lifesaving supplies they need most. He then set to work doing his best to source them from willing donors.

He said: “Talking to people out there, they’re really quite desperate for medical stuff – screaming out for just one or two observation machines. So I hope coming over there with nine life packs will really help.”

“This experience has made me realise how stunningly easy it is to make a big difference. Spending two hours on my phone linking people up on social media can make a hell of a difference in somebody’s life.

“I’ve had hundreds of people getting in touch to try and help in various ways. The effect of social media is amazing, it is so easy to log on to Facebook and make a difference.

“I had a message of somebody in Ukraine who couldn’t get hold of 20 military grade backpacks, but I can order them here for 27 pounds from Amazon.”

So far, Huw has collected thousands of pounds worth of medical donations – photo: Liberty Riley-Peters

As of Monday, the civilian death toll in Ukraine surpassed 3,000 since Russia invaded the country, according to the UN’s Office for Human Rights. Hospitals, clinics and other vital parts of the nation’s medical infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged.

Huw hopes to raise £1200 pounds to rent a vehicle to transport supplies to a new field hospital – where it will go on to help those suffering from gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation and burns.

“Most of us are really quite lucky in this country. I’ll go home tonight and I might grumble about my Wi Fi connection, or the quality of my instant coffee,” he said. “But 20 hours drive away, there’s children getting blown up outside of hospitals – and that bothers me.”

To donate to Huw’s crowdfunder, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/medical-equipment-for-ukraine-1

Main photo: International Medics

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