The UK has donated more than 3.7 million items of medical supplies to Ukraine to help the country cope with the emergency caused by the Russian invasion.
Items including vital medicines, wound packs, and intensive care equipment donated by NHS England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have been flown to the region over the past three weeks, leaving from Stansted and Heathrow Airports, and RAF Brize Norton.
The latest flight – the 11th so far – left from Heathrow yesterday morning (21 March) carrying over 100,000 packs of medicine, including strong painkillers to treat severe pain for those who have been injured by Russian attacks.
The UK government has been working closely with Ukrainian officials to deliver targeted support to ensure medical items are reaching the people who need them most.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "It is appalling to watch the atrocities being committed by Putin as he pursues his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.The UK has acted swiftly to provide life-saving humanitarian aid to Ukraine and will continue to do everything we can. Yesterday’s shipment contains vital medicines including strong painkillers to treat severe pain and sedatives for intensive care procedures. I am incredibly grateful for the donations made by NHS England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as we provide further support to our Ukrainian friends.
"The milestone of 3.7 million medical items donated to Ukraine forms part of the government’s wider humanitarian response to this emergency. The UK government flew 21 children with cancer to the UK, who are now receiving lifesaving treatment from the NHS."
Some of the significant items sent to the Ukraine so far includes:
- Nearly 3,000 adult resuscitators
- Around 160,000 wound care packs
- Over 300,000 sterile needles
- Over 32,000 packs of bandages
- 1,600 pieces of equipment for ventilators
- Over 54,000 cannulas
- 220,000 packs of medicines - around 2.3 million doses - including antibiotics and painkillers
- 72,000 packs of gloves
- 28,000 FFP3 masks
Sukhi Basra