Open letter from the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) to condemn the war in Ukraine and to ensure that health services can continue to provide care to all patients in need of a transplant - March 3
Our community believes in collaboration, integration and democracy. Through acts of aggression by Russian military forces, we see these values being threatened and eroded. WMDA calls on all stakeholders to strongly condemn the violence, bombing, killings, and disruption to essential services resulting from this conflict.
WMDA asks that all parties respect international humanitarian law by ensuring swift and safe delivery of cellular products to all patients who need a transplant and to ensure access to care and medicinal products for patients needing complex transplant treatments, such as those with blood cancer.
We stand for our colleagues, friends, families, donors and patients impacted by this tragedy and we continue to support all of our members during this difficult time.
EUPHA statement: Health is at stake in the Ukraine invasion - February 25
EUPHA unreservedly condemns the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces. As a public health organisation, it notes that the invasion poses important threats to health in the immediate future and the longer term:
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EUPHA further stands in solidarity with its member associations in countries that may also face future threats from external aggression, and especially those in the Baltic states.
Joint Statement on behalf of American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, EBMT and WBMT - March 3
The American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), European Society for Blood Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), and Worldwide Network for Blood Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) firmly condemns the war started by Russian military forces in Ukraine. In particular, ASTCT, EBMT, and WBMT request that peace negotiations prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable Ukrainian people. Casualties among innocent civilians increase by the minute, including children. Patients with severe conditions, such as those with cancer or undergoing life-saving transplants, are currently affected by lack of medications and medical supplies, limited ability to travel to hospitals, lack of adequate nutrition. Healthcare providers and hospital staff in Kyiv remain in their hospitals to treat the patients in shelters, while bombs continue to hit the city.
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ASTCT, EBMT, and WBMT expresses its solidarity to all the Ukrainian healthcare providers, friends and supporters worldwide, and hopes all the states currently engaged in wars will agree on the value of dialogue and peace that should not have borders.
WHO Update
- WHO Office on Ukraine has set up the Incident Management Team and is providing support to the country’s Ministry of Health and leading the international Health Cluster’s work for humanitarian emergencies. See the statement of the Head of WHO Country Office Dr Jarno HABICHT: https://www.facebook.com/WHOEurope/videos/489433626097431
- Radiation and Health Unit at the WHO Headquarters is providing technical support on matters related to radiation safety.
The statement of WHO DG on Ukraine crisis can be read here: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-02-2022-who-director-general-deeply-concerned-over-escalating-health-crisis-in-ukraine
The statement of IAEA DG : https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-director-general-statement-on-the-situation-in-ukraine
How you can help
- Here is the link for donating to UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/conflict-ukraine-pose-immediate-threat-children
- Here is the link for donating to Red Cross Ukraine: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine
Do you need support to transport cells?
You can reach out to the WMDA International Emergency Task Force, contact them here: https://share.wmda.info/x/PqKbEw
Please find an overview of the contact details of WMDA member organisations below:
Prepare your registry for internet connection failure, and print the list with the contact details of WMDA member organisations. Find the overview here.
Message from the Ukrainian Bone Marrow Registry - March 4
Today russia attacked with bombs the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The largest one in Europe. We refer to all bone marrow registers in the world.
- Appeal to your governments and your people to support Ukraine in the war with Russia.
- Ask which of your transplant centres can take Ukrainian patients (priority children) for free bone marrow transplantation so that we understand where they can go. Ukraine's transplant program has been stopped due to Russia's military attack on Ukraine.
- Help financially, the money will be spent on revitalizing of Ukrainian bone marrow registry after the war, in extreme cases, on humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
- If you see an opportunity to help the Bone Marrow registry in Ukraine with something else, please contact us - we are open and thank you for any help.
ubmdregistry@gmail.com
Message from DKMS Polska - March 3
Help for oncological children from Ukraine. 🇺🇦 #SolidarnizUkrainą
We supported the initiative of the Polish Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, organizing medical transport for sick children from Ukraine so that they could continue treatment in Poland. Thanks to the great commitment of Professor Wojciech Młynarski, numerous patient organizations from Polish and Ukraine and our foundation, on the night of March 1, two small oncological patients went to the Department of Pediatrics, Oncology, Hematology and Diabetology of the Medical University of Łódź. A disabled 6-year-old girl and her mother, who fled Kharkov before the war, are temporarily accommodated in a private apartment. Two more children with cancer were transported to clinics in Lublin and Krakow yesterday. Further transports for children requiring specialist medical assistance during the border– hospital route are in preparation.
"The current situation in Ukraine required quick action to help small oncological patients and transport them to Polish hospitals where they will receive medical assistance. In cooperation with Professor Wojciech Młynarski, we managed to organize the first medical transports tailored to their needs. Help has no borders – this slogan has been with us since the beginning of our activity, and in recent days it has gained special importance." – says Ewa Magnucka-Bowkiewicz, President of the DKMS Foundation.
The Polish Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology has launched a hotline for doctors and parents from Ukraine (also in Ukrainian) regarding the possibility of treating children in Poland.
If you have information about a patient in need of help, please contact us via: 📧 sekretariat@ptohd.pl and telephone numbers: 📞 Polish /English – 887 662 886, Ukrainian – 887 669 934.