Dave Toms wrote in asking about whether there are charities or agencies on the Costa Tropical that would handle soon-expiring medication, etc, to be sent to the Ukraine instead of being wasted.
Hi Martin.
I’ve been sitting here reading posts on a military site, about the need to send aid supplies to Ukraine. One small medical centre in the UK has managed to fill a van with out-of-date medical supplies. This is the actual post that has inspired me (sic):
“The wife’s still working medic chums had a go through the use by dates in their respective drug/supplies stores in north Cumbria in June.
We comfortably filled a high top sprinter van (I helped pack, very therapeutic) which went east. I don’t know how many other health authorities staff have shown similar initiative!”
Additionally, there is an humanitarian requirement for warm clothing for those living in very poor accommodation and without power. One report I read yesterday said the temperature was minus 25ºC in some places.
There must be many of us in the area with old jumpers, gloves and no longer used thick jackets, as we are lucky enough not to need them! Also, there must be plenty of boxes of medical supplies no longer required.
I do understand the issues with giving other people ‘your’ medicine, however, if it is going onto a medical facility which currently has nothing, I’m sure they would be grateful and use it wisely and correctly.
Are you aware of any charities, agencies or collection points in this area, or even Granada and Malaga, that is co-ordinating such aid? Somewhere we could drop off some small contribution? There may be Ukrainians living here who know, or people with relatives in Poland or Ukraine that know.
Slava Ukrania!
Yours Aye, Dave Toms
Richard – I agree with some of what you say. However, the medicine of which I speak is not ‘second grade’, it is medicine that has been prescribed to someone and for whatever reason, not used, so premium grade. As I understand it, doctors and medics are asking for ANY medical supplies. Urgently.
I never mentioned weaponry as this is not the forum for that discussion.
I did mention the need for warm winter clothing since as you are obviously aware, the daily temperatures in Ukraine in general and eastern Ukraine in particular are very low already. I know that ex-military personnel have been clearing out their lofts and donating winter uniform equipment, so how about we clear out our jumper drawer and coat hooks of some heavy jackets?
Your response would indicate that any Briton should not supply humanitarian aid lest it offends. Hmmm.
Dave,
I have read your letter which you may feel is well intentioned but in fact actually makes uncomfortable reading.
Your proposition is wrong on so many levels. If short dated or out of date medicines are no good for us to use, why should we be sending “second grade” medicines to the Ukrainian people? Ukrainians should not be treated as some kind of second class citizens. They deserve better. We should be sending medicines that we would be prepared to take ourselves.
It seems to be the usual approach that the British seem to have and that is to treat everyone as in some way as inferior to them and that people in “far away lands” should be grateful to the “scraps” that we send them.
The Ukrainian people are a great and brave nation and they have proved that given the best weapons from the West (rather than Western rejects) they are able to punch well above their weight.
Dave, likewise, they deserve the best medicines.
I have winter clothes in my wardrobe
s that I am looking to donate to ukrane if there is a collection point
in the Costa Tropical.