Healing the wounds of war in Ukraine – visible and invisible

Volunteers sort and label boxes of medical donations at a warehouse around O’Hare airport in February 2022 for airlift to Ukraine.

By Pat Merryweather-Arges, 2023-24 RI Vice President and a member of the Rotary Club of Naperville, Illinois, USA —

I met Dr. Olha Paliychuk shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As we both work in healthcare, I knew the priority needs for addressing the physical harm in emergency situations and we communicated frequently by e-mail and WhatsApp. At the same time, the Ukraine Medical Association of North America (UMANA) opened a warehouse around O’Hare airport and medical donations poured in from around the US, but with most in the Chicago and Wisconsin areas.

Rotary District 6450 started a fundraising effort to secure medical supplies and equipment that were in great need, identified by Rotary members in Ukraine. We purchased equipment and supplies and secured air transportation through UMANA. Many Rotary members and non-members donated for Ukraine through the district.

We also worked with Dr. Olha to identify needs when Rotary established Disaster Grants for Ukraine. In the first 18 months, the need for advanced surgical equipment for brain trauma, limb amputations, and internal organ damage from mortar attacks and shrapnel became a priority.

At the same time, the strain of war on children and family members of front-line military and health care workers became very apparent.  There has been an increased emphasis on mental health support for children and family members, as well as military members, during the past two years. That has now expanded to include emergency and healthcare workers.

While the wounds of physical injuries may heal over time, the mental wounds of war are deep and harder to address without mental health support. Even those without physical wounds suffer from the mental wounds of war.

War is not natural. Children and adults are not trained to injure one another, they are trained to be kind and helpful. War takes a major mental toll on those involved in conflict.

Dr. Olha has incorporated the mental health needs as a priority in her Rotary humanitarian efforts as the needs are so great and at times, overwhelming.  As a district governor-elect, Olha will be in the United States for Rotary’s annual training event in Orlando in early February. This provided an ideal opportunity to plan a conference and invite other panelists to discuss the ongoing mental health impact of the war.