Thiruvananthapuram – Dr. Santosh Kumar was busy working as the head of the health mission team led by the World Health Organization and the United Nations in a place called Seborasia, where refugees from different places in Ukraine arrive. He was Deputy Superintendent of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and was one of the rare doctors who was posted from India to Ukraine.
Hundreds of refugees are being brought to the camp in UN vehicles. An elderly woman among them caught the attention of Santosh Kumar. A small bag in the hand of an elderly woman caught the doctor’s attention among those who were waiting to leave their native land and go to another country. An old woman called Elena opened the bag in front of the doctor who requested to open the bag – some dolls.
Elena’s daughter and grandson had already fled. Those who are in any other safe place in the country. When they called Elena on the phone while they were trying to cross the country, it was the grandson who told her that she had forgotten to take her dolls. Elena is waiting for her grandchild and daughter to get rid of all the expensive things and clothes, with the dolls. “We think that valuable things are big in life. All those perceptions will change the war” – says Santosh Kumar.
Dr. Santosh Kumar was a front fighter in the early stage of Covid. Santosh Kumar, who was responsible for setting up the Covid Brigade, was also at the forefront of setting up hospitals for Covid treatment in Kasarkot. Santosh, who has been working in the war zone for many years, was the South Asia President of Doctors Without Borders. He has served in 45 countries including Africa and Iraq. Santhosh says that there are few doctors from India working on war fronts. Three to four months of the year will be spent on the battlefield. Due to his experience in this field, he will be called by international organizations in urgent cases.
Under the leadership of the United Nations and WHO, voluntary organizations are divided into various sectors after calculating the amount to be spent in the war zone. Health matters are not the only ones to look at. Accommodation should be provided for those displaced, hospitals should be built, food and water should be distributed and sanitation work should be done. Voluntary organizations will form consortia once funds are allocated for each sector. Each NGO will excel in each field.
Doctors Without Borders and International Medical Core have proven excellence in the medical field. Save Children cares about children. Consortium is formed by combining all these. The organization has offices in Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Moldova. Although the war is in Ukraine, refugees are coming to other countries. Santosh Kumar went to Ukraine on March 24 to coordinate the activities of medical organizations locally.
Ukraine can only be reached through Poland due to the ongoing war. The last city to the west is Krakow, Poland. After a 250 km drive from there, you will reach the border of Ukraine. You have to walk about a kilometer and cross the border. Another 100 km by car will take you to the city of Lviv, where the office in Ukraine is located. The trip is under the auspices of the United Nations. Emergency First Line Treatment Centers are being built 5 km away from the war-torn areas. Doctors and nurses will be trained there. A referral system will also be set up after delivery of treatment materials.
Actions in Ukraine differ from those in Africa and the Gulf. Being a part of Europe, the climate is the main problem. After mid-September, severe cold starts. Refugee camps cannot be run in tents or open schools. Enclosed buildings are not easy to find. Old, abandoned or under construction buildings will be used as camps. Container houses will also be made.
Santosh Kumar’s job was medical coordination. There will be coordinators in different areas. There is a coordination committee to evaluate their work. The team will include not only people from abroad, but also doctors, nurses and volunteers from Ukraine. Tasks will be allocated to organizations sector-wise. Tasks include setting up a trauma care system, treating the injured, looking after the health of refugees, maternity care and mental health treatment. Each sector must be paid. How the hospitals working in that area are working should be assessed. All this is being done by each organization.
When Santosh Kumar arrived in Ukraine, all the Malayali students had returned. Santosh Kumar says that the refugees are facing big problems. Thousands of people are going to other countries. Those with money would first migrate to Europe and Germany as refugees. Those who have very little money will be stuck without being able to go. They have to live without food, water and shelter in many parts of the country. There will be no money to buy food. Staying in rented houses for a few days and leaving without money to pay the rent. They will have to give birth without hospital facilities” – Santosh Kumar said.
The common picture of war is the loss of children and the disintegration of families. Men cannot leave the country. Women will go to foreign countries and engage in occupations. Some get jobs and some don’t. I will try to do my best and send money home. Many become sex workers. When there are new relationships and settle down, local children become orphans. Organizations will have to create a system to look after children.
“Depression will become a big problem for people’s mental health. Rape is common. It is common for soldiers to harass women and children,” says Santosh Kumar. Reports from the war front go to the World Health Organization.
Santosh is planning to go to Ukraine again in the second week of September. Everyone hoped that the war would end soon. Now there is no clue that it will end. “When the common man has to work under the decision of the political leadership, the conditions of life suddenly change. War will create valor and bravado. Ukraine wants to protect its own soil. The Russian soldiers should end the war as soon as possible. In the meantime, thousands lose their lives.” – says Santosh Kumar.
(Dr Santosh Kumar was the head of the health mission to Ukraine)
English Summary: Experience of Dr. Santhosh Kumar who is serving Ukraine in war times