In Ukraine, our mobile clinics reach dozens of communities on the frontline, providing care for people who have little access to medical assistance.
Since our Ukraine response first began immediately after the invasion, we’ve provided more than 20,000 medical consultations through mobile clinics. 43 per cent of people we’ve treated have been displaced, and three quarters of them are women. Here are the stories of four of those people, each of whom have endured more than two years of unending conflict.
“The greatest value is human life” – Olya, 52
“Olya, war.”
That was how I learned the war had begun. My sister called me that day to tell me. Then, I got a call from my son, who was only 18 and living in Kyiv, at five o clock in the morning saying he could heart he sound of explosions.
Because of the war it was difficult to get medical help. Although the nearest hospital is about 6 kilometres away, we couldn’t get IV drips or injections even if the doctor prescribed it because there are no medical staff in this village. We used to have a FAP – a rural outpatient clinic – but not anymore.
Then, the mobile clinics came. People didn’t believe at first that medicines and consultations could be free. Now, people in the village can’t do without it. They know that when the mobile clinics come, they’ll be helped. One person from my village came to me and said “Olya, I feel so unwell.” I told him “Come, we will have doctors.” The medical staff measured his sugar levels – he has diabetes – and gave him medicine. He told me: “I feel like I was born again!”
I would like to convey one message to people in the UK: cherish today, appreciate all the joys you have, and help people who are in conflict. In such a difficult situation as ours, values change greatly for people. Material values are not so valuable because the greatest value is human life. That’s what I think.
“We are living in a war zone: we lack everything, including healthcare” – Svitlana, 60
When I try and recall that day – the day of the invasion – I remember it only vaguely. I only know that we turned on the television and saw the announcement that our cities were being bombed. Then my daughter called. “Mum, the war has started.” she said.
It was such a tragedy. When we heard the invasion had begun, it was a huge shock for us. On the 23rd of February, I gathered my class of school children. We sat together, feeling like it might be the last time we’d ever meet. The next day, on the 24th of February, the war began. Our village was often hit with missiles. At one point, my classroom was hit directly by a shell – it no longer exists. It‘s been tough living through this war.
I desperately needed to see a cardiologist, but there was no medical facility nearby. You see, we are living in a war zone: we lack everything, including healthcare. We don’t have hospitals, doctors rarely come to us, and we can’t reach a doctor for minor issues. I learned about the mobile clinics through my friend. I came to the mobile clinic and the staff welcomed me and prescribed medication. We need more people like your doctors.
“It’s scary that we’ve become so accustomed to war” – Victoria, 61
My husband and I used to live in Kharkiv, but when the explosions began, we had to leave. That was how we learned the war had begun – we immediately heard explosions and the sound of war.
Two years on, it’s scary that we’ve become so accustomed to war. When we first came to this remote village after leaving Kharkiv, my neighbour and I stood in line for bread for three hours. While we were standing, we saw a Russian missile flying over us. It made a terrible noise and everyone in the queue dived into the mud out of fear. That was March 2022. At that point, I realised that many awful things would come our way.
War is tough for everyone, financially, emotionally, and psychologically. With the high prices of medication, it’s essential that there is a clinic like UK-Med that provides medical aid for free, because getting all these medicines is very difficult. I had a heart attack a few years ago, which left me unable to travel very far. But here, in the mobile health clinic, I know that the doctors will come every two weeks; they treat us very well, they reassure us, and they are very patient. They do ECGs and help us with medication. If certain medicine is not available, they always try and offer a replacement.
“We want peace so that our children aren’t afraid” – Iryna, 77
When the war first began, there was a lot of fear. My husband and I couldn’t sleep at night because we were expecting something dreadful to happen. After time, we’ve grown somewhat accustomed to it, but the feeling of fear still lingers.
Because of the war, medical assistance is difficult to access for a lot of people. Not everyone can travel to reach the hospital. Public transport doesn’t run from our village in winter, so we have an old car that we drive. It’s hard for my husband to walk, so we always come to your clinic by car. But for other elderly people, it’s very hard for them. That’s why your clinics are so important; because we know that every two weeks, the doctors will come to the village.
We’ve been coming to you for almost a year now. My blood pressure fluctuates. While it’s certainly age-related, it still bothers me. I also have chest pains. Your doctors prescribe medications that help – they’re very attentive.
Of course, looking ahead, we want peace to return to our country. I don’t think anyone wants war. We want peace so that our children aren’t afraid and can live peacefully, and everyone can return home.
