Bocholt collects for aid transport to Ukraine

The mayors from Bocholt and Verkhniodniprovsk — *Mayors Thomas Kerkhoff from Bocholt (right) and Gennadii Lebid from the Ukrainian city of Verkhniodniprovsk met in person in Leipzig.*

Bocholt - The first aid transport is due to set off from Bocholt to the Ukrainian city of Verkhniodniprovsk before Christmas. The city of Bocholt has recently entered into a solidarity partnership with the community of 40,000 inhabitants in the middle east of Ukraine - just a few hundred kilometres from the war front.

At the meeting of the City of Bocholt's Committee for Culture and Town Twinning on Tuesday, 14 November, an update was given on this solidarity partnership and the establishment of a working group"Bocholt helps Verkhniodniprovsk" was announced to bundle aid opportunities, knowledge and partnership exchange for the city of Verkhniodniprovsk. The solidarity partnership between the city of Bocholt and the Ukrainian municipality has now been approved by the city council.

"I had the honour of meeting Mayor Lebid in Leipzig and hearing from him first-hand about the situation in Ukraine," says Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff after the meeting. "I am still impressed by the great determination and the will of the Ukrainians to stand up for their country," said Kerkhoff.

Medical supplies are currently in short supply in many Ukrainian cities, including Verkhniodniprovsk. That is why the working group is now organising an aid transport with hospital beds, medical equipment and supplies, which is due to set off for Ukraine in the course of December.

Hospital beds already collected

Leo Engenhorst from Bocholt has already collected hospital beds and equipment with the help of the Bocholt organisation "Helfende Hände". Engenhorst is providing significant support to the city of Bocholt in putting together the first aid transport with these medical supplies. "However, there is still a lack of material for care and wound treatment," says Bocholt's European representative Petra Taubach. The city of Verkhniodniprovsk has sent a list for the local municipal hospital so that the supplies can be collected as needed. The materials will not only be used for sick citizens of the city, but are also intended for war wounded.

Donation collection on Saturday, 9 December

Citizens and organisations wishing to donate materials can do so on Saturday, 9 December, from 1 to 3 pm, at Industriestraße / (next to IBENA) in Bocholt. Representatives of the "Helping Hands" organisation, the volunteer agency and the European representative Petra Taubach will be happy to accept the donations.

What is urgently needed

Medical product	Quantity
Non-sterile bandages 14 x 7 cm	500 pcs.
Bactericidal/bactericidal plasters	500 pcs.
Set of naso-, oropharyngeal airway tubes of different sizes	3 pcs.
Adult nappies size L	500 pcs.
Set of surgical instruments for the treatment of wounds and pressure sores, for single use	100 pcs.
Organic toilets	20 pcs.
Blood pressure monitors for adults	40 pcs.
Blood pressure monitors for children	6 pcs.
Organiser bag/doctor's bag for the doctor	2 pcs.
Spirometer (A spirometer is a medical device for determining respiratory volumes, such as vital capacity, tidal volume and expiratory or inspiratory reserve volume. It is used to diagnose lung dysfunctions such as those that occur in asthma or bronchitis).	1 pc.
Mirror ophthalmoscope/eye mirror	2 pcs.
Electronic scales for adults with altimeter	5 pcs.
Growth meter	2 pcs.
Nappies, for single use	500 pcs.
Sheets/paper for single use	500 pcs.
Automatic dispenser for medical substances	10 pcs.
Tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure	2 pcs.
Mixtures for enteral nutrition / tube feeding	500 pcs.
Phonendoscope / stethoscope	20 pcs.
Camerton 440 20 Hz (medical tuning fork)	20 pcs.