A huge delivery of vital first aid kits have arrived at the front line of war-torn Ukraine thanks to money raised by Teesside NHS staff and community.
Earlier this year a fundraising team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust launched a campaign to help people in Ukraine impacted by Russia’s invasion.
Partnering up with Vladyslav Vovk, one of the Trust’s foundation doctors, as well as other medics and health trusts across the region, the effort was able to raise more than £25,000.
So far this has been invested in more than 170 individual first aid kits, which have now arrived in Mykolaiv, the south of the country.
The kits include items such as bleeding control and wound treatment, tourniquets, chest seals and combat gauze.
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This is the second delivery the organisation has made to Ukraine after the collection of a number of medical supplies organised by the Trust’s subsidiary company, NTH Solutions.
Mr Vovk, who was born in Ukraine and grew up there before moving to the UK, said the kits would “save many lives.”
He added: “I can’t thank people enough for all of their support. These kits contain everything needed for life saving critical care on the battlefield.”
Working with the Trust’s fundraising service and the communications and marketing team, the organisation’s staff and community have also helped raise a huge haul of goods over the last few months.
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This included tinned food, toiletries and clothing to innocent civilians refugees.
Mr Vovk added: “The staff and community have shown such kindness and selflessness over the last few months.
“It’s incredible and I just want to thank each and every one of you.”
It comes after earlier this year hospital porter Paul Simms and his wife Gill opened up their home to a mother and daughter fleeing Ukraine.
Suzi Campbell, fundraising co-ordinator, said: “The generosity of our workforce and our community over the last few months has been so humbling.
“We’ve given medical equipment, food and clothing supplies to people and even had staff who have offered a home to refugees.
“It’s so inspiring and I want to thank everyone who has offered their help and support.”
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