An operating microscope is an indispensable tool in ophthalmic surgery. It allows for precise eye surgery and faster recovery of patients. Without this equipment, ophthalmologists are unable to provide adequate treatment to war victims fighting on the front lines and civilians in emergencies. The Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons of Poland (SCOP) was approached by Ukrainian doctors from the Military Hospital of the Northern Region of the city of Kharkiv for help in obtaining professional equipment.
The Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons of Poland, whose president is Prof. Robert Rejdak of the University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, reacted very quickly to the Kharkiv ophthalmologists’ appeal. It engaged a number of partners from home and abroad, encouraging them to raise money for the purchase of an operating microscope. Intensive cooperation with SCOP was undertaken for this purpose by Caritas of the Lublin Archdiocese .
The priority is to raise the funds needed to purchase an operating microscope, which – in cooperation with Caritas Spes Kharkiv – will be donated to the Kharkiv Military Hospital for the ophthalmology department. The microscope will be used, according to the huge demand, to treat both war victims and ordinary patients.
Pictured: a team of surgeons from Kharkiv Hospital
– Currently, the hospital has only old, worn-out equipment, which is very often damaged, which is why there is such an urgent and pressing need to donate an operating microscope to colleagues in Kharkiv. With such a device, the surgeon can see the structures of the eye in detail, allowing the procedure to be performed with greater accuracy and minimizing the risk of damage to delicate tissues. The operating microscope is used in many ophthalmic procedures. The approximate price of an optimal microscope that will meet all the expectations of frontline work is about half a million zlotys (130.000 USD,” says Prof. Rober Rejdak.
Caritas of the Lublin Archdiocese is actively supporting victims of the war in Ukraine, implementing humanitarian assistance both for those remaining in the conflict-ridden country and for refugees arriving in Poland. It also works with other humanitarian organizations, local authorities and volunteers to coordinate relief efforts.
– Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, we have been supporting our neighbors from across the eastern border – both those who, fleeing the war, came to the Lublin region and those who remained in Ukraine. Particular beneficiaries of our aid are the wards of Caritas Spes in Kharkiv, whose director is Fr. Wojciech Stasiewicz, who comes from our archdiocese. Although he could have returned to the safety of Poland, he stayed behind to be close to the people in their drama. We cannot leave them alone , notes Fr. Luke Mudrak, director of Caritas of the Lublin Archdiocese.
For more than three years since the outbreak of the war, SCOP has also been providing very intensive support to Ukrainian ophthalmologists, standing in solidarity with the professional community in this extremely dramatic situation for them. This assistance takes various forms.
– We organize specialized training for doctors at our university center in Lublin, we conduct online and stationary educational courses, we also jointly participate in conventions of ophthalmologists exchanging knowledge and experience,” informs Prof. Robert Rejdak, head of the General and Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic in Lublin and president of SCOP. – We operate on war victims with eye injuries at our clinic, and as part of SCOP’s activities, we initiate collections of ophthalmic equipment, medical apparatus, dressing materials and medicines and deliver these donations to ophthalmologists in Ukraine.
The assistance in donating an operating microscope requested by SCOP by Dr. Marina Gupanova of the Military Hospital of the Northern Region of the city of Kharkiv is of special importance to Ukrainian ophthalmologists.
Pictured: Dr. Marina Gupanova ophthalmologist, employee of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Dr. Vdovenko Sergii head of the ophthalmology department, Dr. Smilanez Dmitry head of the maxillofacial department
“If we acquire an operating microscope for anterior and posterior eye procedures we will be able to perform almost all operations to restore visual function. This equipment will be installed in a room without windows, which is also reinforced with additional metal covers to protect it from damage in case the hospital is bombed. Without professional equipment, we are unable to provide highly qualified assistance to Ukrainian citizens.
It breaks our hearts and souls that despite having the skills in eye microsurgery, we are unable to provide full assistance to these heroic people due to lack of equipment. We further expose them to loss of sight and disability. We turn to you with hope and understanding of our situation, to all who have respect and a sense of humanity, to ask you to provide us with such assistance in obtaining the necessary equipment,” wrote Dr. Marina Gupanova in an appeal to Prof. Robert Rejdak
Payments available at Caritas Archidiecezji Lubelskiej
Support a microscope for Kharkiv https://mikroskopdlacharkowa.pl/donate/
