Press release: Bromsgrove Refugee Appeals for medical equipment for Ukraine
January 2025
A Bromsgrove refugee has launched a New Year appeal to send vital medical equipment to help soldiers and civilians injured in the war in her Ukrainian homeland.
During a recent brief visit to her home city of Kharkiv close to the border with Russia, Tanya Tyiko was so horrified by the devastation and injury that she became determined to do everything she can to support the Ukrainian war effort.
Back at her adopted home in Stoke Prior, the retired school teacher is calling on British people to donate medical equipment they no longer need.
“Our city is bombed every day and every night without stopping,” she said. “And new people are being wounded every day. It is a desperate need for any medical equipment that could be useful for to help them.”
Ms Tyiko, who is 65 years old and being supported by Bromsgrove & Redditch Welcome Refugees, listed items that are urgently needed: crutches, walking frames, foot fracture boots, emergency blankets and dressings for wounds – even if they need to be sterilised before use. She added that even out of date antibiotics would help the cause.
“This message is from my heart,” she said. “First of all, I would send British people lots of gratitude for everything, but if Ukrainian heroes don’t stop Putin, he would move as far forward as he can, so I think it is our common duty to stop him.”
Anyone wanting to donate or help can make contact via tanya.leg59@gmail.com.
The medical donations will be sent to a hospital near Ms Tyiko’s home in Kharkiv where Danya Suhokon, who’s 21 and one of her former students, is a medical intern assisting with emergency operations many times a day.
“It is very difficult to describe in words what is happening now in my beloved city without tears,” he explained.
“Air raid sirens more than 10 hours a day, sometimes you wake up to a siren, go to work to a siren, work and rest to a siren, sleep to a siren… and it is terrible.” he said.
“All my colleagues understand perfectly well that we work in a place where a missile or a drone can fly, but we get up every morning without a drop of doubt and go save people’s lives.
“Every day, both military and civilians are brought to us and all my highly qualified fellow doctors help them in the best possible way.”
Danya said injured soldiers and civilians would be extremely grateful for donations that will aid their recoveries, especially antibiotics supplies and vac devices for treating deep wounds.
Danya Suhokon at the Ukrainian hospital where he assists at many emergency operations a day.
