A resilient doctor from British Columbia recently completed her sixth mission to Ukraine, where she witnessed the ongoing destruction caused by Russia’s invasion. Dr. Tracey Parnell, a trained emergency medicine and disaster management physician, is a vital member of MedicTeam4Ukraine. This group assesses the medical needs in Ukraine, collects funds to address those needs, and provides medical care and training on the ground.
During her most recent deployment, Parnell and her team had to cut their mission short due to exposure to a dangerous “chemical agent.” Parnell emphasizes the continued danger in Ukraine and the need for action against the oppressor. Recently, Russia carried out extensive drone and missile attacks in southern Ukraine, causing significant damage to critical port infrastructure and injuring at least 12 people. These attacks also disrupted Ukraine’s grain exports, further worsening the country’s situation.
President Vladimir Putin’s decision to withdraw Russia from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal ensuring Ukraine’s exports to countries facing famine, was followed by retaliatory attacks on Ukraine. This conflict has resulted in a staggering number of casualties, with the United Nations estimating nearly 30,000 civilian deaths and over five million displaced individuals.
Dr. Parnell has personally witnessed the devastating effects of this war, including war crimes. In Bakhmut, a city captured by Russian forces, Parnell and her team treated between 100 and 200 major trauma patients daily. She recalls a horrifying experience where a patient had his neck cut open without anesthesia. Despite her medical expertise, all she could offer was words of comfort and reassurance to the patient.
The situation in Ukraine’s medical facilities is dire, with shortages of staff and necessary equipment to handle the high volume of casualties. Dr. Parnell stressed the need for improved patient care and better-quality supplies. MedicTeam4Ukraine is actively fundraising to train more doctors and first responders in advanced trauma care. Additionally, they seek to provide life-saving equipment such as tourniquets and chest seals.
Parnell acknowledges the thirst for knowledge among Ukrainian medics and the importance of providing them with high-level and adaptable training. While the focus has primarily been on warfare, efforts to train medics are now being prioritized. Dr. Parnell will be returning to Ukraine in two weeks to continue her vital work.
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