Exeter’s World Extreme Medicine prepares for greatest challenge on Ukraine’s frontline

From helping Astronauts to treating major stars in the world’s most remote movie locations, World Extreme Medicine, which has strong links to Exeter University, is now in the middle of one of its greatest challenges - delivering highly specialised trauma care equipment to its network on Ukraine’s frontline. 

Born out of expeditions over 25 years ago, World Extreme Medicine leads the way in outstanding and inspirational expedition medicine training. It also offers extensive consultancy and medical support for projects across the globe and speakers at its conference have included Tom Cruise, explorers and NASA Astronauts.

Now a series of convoys, known as Medics4Ukraine, are being co-ordinated by a team of medical professionals and extreme medicine experts from its network, carrying highly specialised and focused medical equipment. The first convoy successfully delivered its cargo of urgently needed medical supplies directly into Ukraine in early April, including tourniquets, airway management kits, paramedic bags and bespoke trauma kits for improvised field hospitals. 

Convoy two will transport blood clotting agents, analgesic pain relief and antibiotics directly to frontline units including those in besieged cities such as Maruipol, Kherson and Kharkhiv.

“What makes these convoys different is the network of medics helping us inside Ukraine, which means we can bypass many of the checkpoints and bottlenecks to get to the people who most need trauma kits the most – and quickly,” explains Mark Hannaford, founder of World Extreme Medicine.

“Hospital staff in Ukraine are working non-stop in dangerous conditions, with resources diminishing by each passing day. We have been in direct contact with Ukrainian medical professionals, and their current situation is only set to get worse.”

Drawing on the experience of organising successful medical equipment convoys to Syria and Myanmar the team have contacts, medical expertise, and the logistical setup to deliver convoys directly to hospitals on the frontline in Ukraine. Mark continues, “The objective is to send over multiple convoys throughout the conflict, which will each time supply medical equipment that is most in demand.”

“The convoy has delivered lifesaving equipment. We are all medics. We talk the same language - the World Extreme medics can get us exactly what we so desperately need,” says Dr Olinsky an emergency doctor stationed in Lviv.

“This was not an easy journey to make due to the nature of the conflict and the flow of the refugees out of Ukraine,” continues Mark. “It was heartbreaking to see, but what drives us on is making sure that supplies reach the East of the country, where they are most in need.”

Departing the UK on 29th April the appeal needs funds to once again secure essential lifesaving medical resources. Find out more information and donate to the ‘Medics4Ukraine’ fundraising appeal today. Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/medics4ukraine