Ukraine's Medical Facilities Struggle in Wartime
Medical supply shortages, attacks on hospitals, and halted vaccination campaigns
The war in Ukraine has resulted in a serious medical supply deficit in the country and a great demand for medical care. For every casualty we read about on the news, there are emergency medical supplies being used up for treatment and doctors working around the clock and sleeping in hospitals to support victims. Behind the scenes, there are patients with chronic illnesses and COVID-19 living in fear of losing access to medication and necessary medical equipment for survival.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has limited access to medical care and basic health necessities in numerous ways. As businesses in Ukraine are forced to take a step back in wartime, medical supplies run short. Routes used for international donations and supplies are blocked off or regularly under attack. Cities shut down and hospitals become inaccessible as people fear to leave their homes. Health becomes compromised in no time.
Shortages and Hospital Attacks
Various types of medication are in high demand during wartime, specifically transportable first aid supplies and rapid wound healing equipment such as vacuum-assisted closure devices. Additionally, cancer care medication, diabetes medication, and children’s vaccines are in low stock throughout the country and are being rationed out.
Medical supplies in Ukraine are currently estimated to last two weeks, but water and food supplies are expected to run out even faster without aid. Though access to medication is just as important, more people will be affected by the limited food supply making it a more pressing issue for the state to solve as of now. Though the World Health Organization is attempting to use Poland as a humanitarian corridor to transport medical supplies to Ukraine, many truck drivers are unwilling to travel these attack-prone routes and face the potential of bombing all the way.
Additionally, hospitals have become military targets and the areas around them danger zones. Russia has already dropped missiles outside a hospital in Vuhledar and opened fire at a children’s hospital in Kyiv. Most recently, though, Russia attacked a maternity and children’s hospital in Mariupol. This attack on Wednesday received a lot of press coverage for the mass damage that had occurred and the numerous civilians that had been injured as they attempted to seek medical care. Attacks like these make receiving medical care even more dangerous than facing an illness at home in the short term, but the long term consequences of foregoing medical care may be serious
Polio and HIV Campaigns in Peril
One of the most significant polio campaigns has been occurring in Ukraine over the past few months. Polio is a dangerous disease that can result in paralysis at an early age but can be prevented and eradicated through immunization campaigns. In October of 2021, the first polio case in five years in all of Europe was discovered in Ukraine. Since then, an additional 20 children have been identified with polio, one of who developed significant paralysis.
The polio vaccine campaign in Ukraine has been attempting to vaccinate over 100,000 unprotected children in the country since late 2021. However, it has become increasingly difficult to continue the campaign during wartime and polio cases are predicted to rise as unvaccinated children face increased exposure.
Similarly, HIV/AIDs treatments in supporting over 250,000 individuals in Ukraine, the second-most in Europe after Russia. Treatments are running low across the country now, though, and HIV/AIDs patients may soon face some of the most severe medical consequences of this war. Without regular antiviral treatments, HIV can progress to AIDS and patients can be left with low white blood cell counts, limited immune responses, and highly infectious levels of the virus.
COVID-19 Cases Were Just Falling
Ukraine also faced a spike in COVID-19 cases in February, with cases peaking at around 40,000 a day and beginning to decline before the military attacks. Many COVID-19 patients were also hospitalized, with around 2,000 being treated with oxygen right before the pandemic started. Now, however, treatments are being delayed as medications and more importantly, oxygen runs low. It has become difficult to transport oxygen from plants to hospitals and also, to produce oxygen itself.
In fact, zeolite, a crucial component of oxygen production is running extremely low in Ukraine. In addition to the supply chain issue for oxygen production, a total of 3 large oxygen plants have already been closed down in Ukraine and many other ones may soon follow. Without necessary oxygen supplies, COVID-19 treatment will come to a halt and people will continue to be prone to not only the virus but also the more severe effects of the infection that could have been treated otherwise.
The vaccination rate in Ukraine is modest, with around 65% of the population being vaccinated, but many individuals still have not received boosters. Against the newer variants like Omicron, 2-dose vaccinations alone are not enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As civilians are forced to mingle in wartime to protect themselves, whether this is in airports, shelters, transportation, or even homes, COVID-19 is more prone to transmission. Unvaccinated children may be the most vulnerable to infection, but older adults and those with chronic diseases may be the most prone to getting more severely sick even with vaccination.
European Donations Are Rolling In
The European Union has released a request for aid and foreign donations are being prepared to support Ukrainians and countries are also opening up borders to refugees. Sweden is sending over 1 million face masks as well as disinfectants and larger medical equipment such as ventilators to Ukraine. Its donations focus on supporting sanitation as well as COVID-19 efforts in Ukraine. Britain on the other hand is sending a plethora of emergency medical equipment to Ukraine, including first aid kits, tourniquets, and anticoagulants (to treat clotting).
Scotland’s donation is one of the largest, with the nation providing over 4 million euros worth of humanitarian aid for supporting sanitation, shelter, and access to clean water. In addition to this, Scotland is also donating over 500,000 medical items, including hypodermic needles and oxygen masks, valued at a total of 2.9 million euros. Other countries around the world are also planning to step up and donate to Ukraine.
Supporting Ukraine can also be done from the home. For personal donations, consider donating to the Ukraine Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, or World Central Kitchen to name a few organizations. Addressing the medical supply deficit will require a significant amount of foreign help and stopping the war, even more.
The events in Ukraine are truly heartbreaking and as you have explained so well here, the medical situation is very worrisome too. Thanks for sharing this post that sheds light on such an important topic.
What's happening in Ukraine is so awful at the moment - my thoughts are with everyone affected in this tough time. Thank you so much for writing about this important topic and shedding light on the awful medical situation.