Dispatches From the Poland-Ukraine Border
Events have been busy, and we are a little behind on updates.
Since February 2022 5.1 million Ukrainians have fled their country, with 2.9 million arriving in Poland. Earlier this month our friend and colleague, Rochester area internist Dr. Neil Scheier, provided volunteer medical care through the organization Sauvateurs Sans Frontieres / Rescuers Without Borders at a refugee welcome center on the Poland-Ukraine border.
The SSF medical crew in Medyka, Poland. Photo courtesy of Dr. Scheier.
He shared with us some of what he saw:
This is truly field medicine. In a tent, the medicines we have are whatever was donated, it’s me and whatever Ukrainian speaking assistant I can grab off the street. I work an eight hour shift, followed by an oncologist from Philadelphia, and then overnight is a urology resident also from Philadelphia. Saw a wound that was typhus. Basically urgent care in a tent. They’ve had some excitement – 87 years olds walking miles to get across the border have heart attacks…
A gentleman receiving a needed rest. Photo courtesy of Dr. Scheier.
[It] takes about an hour, but ambulances are available. There are paramedics in the refugee camp as well from different organizations, all available – I have a walkie-talkie if they are needed…Most [refugees] are here no more than a day or two. This is the refugee entry point…they are provided food, clothing if they need it, Sim cards for the cell phones, a mattress on the floor or a cot to sleep in for a day or two – some have travelled very long distances. However they are then bussed in an organized manner elsewhere – either in Poland, or to one of the countries that is accepting refugees…Many of the Ukrainian refugees have distant relatives in Poland or Hungary and they have already made arrangements to go there.
In the children’s room. Photo courtesy of Dr. Scheier.
The medical tent that I am in is the first tent that they see – but only a small percentage need medical care. They did have one patient cardiac arrest here, there are seizures because individuals have gone days without their anti-seizure medicines, there are hypertensive emergencies for similar reasons, wounds that need to be cared for, but more often than not simply a headache, or dehydration, sugar issues that are easily addressed, foot pain from the long walk, back pain in the elderly…I can give IV fluids here. I can do urine tests and check sugar. I can give any medicine. I can do a code. As you collect things, every place needs Pedialyte.
A family arriving across the Polish-Ukrainian border, escorted by volunteers. Photo courtesy of Dr. Scheier.
They come from all over…Today a huge influx from Mariupol. My day started with an acute cholecystitis, a burn on a leg. Huge mental health day as well many with acute severe anxiety over their recent experience. Back pain from carrying suitcases for days. Bad dental issues. Painful foot ulcers. A kid with diarrhea. Things that we need: antibiotic creams/ointments, blood pressure meds, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, H2 blockers, adult and child anti-diarrhea meds, Claritin-type meds. Shipments arrive daily, some in a shoebox others in bigger wrapped boxes, some purchased in Polish stores.
Dr. Scheier commented that he saw a wide range of medical issues from dental emergencies to foot infections, and many of the people arriving in the past weeks “have very little to begin with.” A frequent scene he also described was that of men bringing their wives, children, and other loved ones over the border into Poland, saying tearful goodbyes, and then returning into Ukraine to defend their country.
The kind of volunteer work performed by Dr. Scheier and others is important not just because of the medical relief itself, but also because this work bears witness to the injustice, horror, and human suffering that Russia has brought to Ukraine.
There continues to be a need for medical volunteers working with those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Sauvateurs Sans Frontieres / Rescuers Without Borders is a non-governmental organization whose sole objective is to save lives regardless of nationalities or religions. Besides their work on the Poland-Ukraine border, there are 14 SSF missions positioned throughout the world: including Nepal, Philippines, Mali, Indonesia, Jordan, France, Netherlands, Saint Martin, Bangladash, South America and more.
Dr. Scheier also carried with him 80 lbs (36 kg) of donated medical supplies, and we have received word that the supplies made it to our contact in Lviv, Ukraine, and have already been distributed! Thank you again Dr. Scheier!
We are still accepting donations!
We are collecting monetary donations to support the purchase of medical supplies and non-controlled substance medications now for Ukrainian hospitals. Go to our fundraising page to contribute.
We are a non-profit organized under the Rochester Regional Health Foundations.
