The International Council of Nurses (ICN) organized a virtual meeting with European nursing leaders who brought together nursing groups to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. The participants jointly expressed their full support and solidarity with the nurses and the Ukrainian people.
ICN, the European Federation of Nursing Associations (EFN) and the European Forum of Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA) joint statement expressing all their dissent, strongly condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and calling for the immediate end of fire, end hostilities and start of intense diplomatic negotiations to ensure peace.
The meeting brought together the leaders of the national nursing associations of Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia with European leaders in order to provide information and actions to protect nurses and healthcare professionals, protect facilities and guarantee access to aid humanitarians.
Tetyana Chernyshenko, President of the Nursing Association of Ukraine, joined the webinar from Kyiv. She spoke about the ongoing conflict: “Our people are looking for shelter in subway stations, and bombs are hitting not only places of residence but also hospitals… Babies have even been delivered in the subway shelters or in the hospital basements.” She thanked the bordering countries who have taken in and cared for many Ukrainian refugees.
Aneliya, a senior nurse from Kyiv, is one of those nurses who are living in the hospital. “We are seeing increased attacks in Kyiv and preparing for a large number of wounded. We are particularly worried about the growing lack of basic medical supplies, including tourniquets. We are also providing first aid training for civilians, but we desperately need more supplies.”
Halyna, a nurse leader in Ukraine, said she had received messages from nurses across the country who are spending the nights in the shelters and in hospitals. “They are sending their children and grandchildren to neighbouring countries and I am very thankful for this help.”
Svitlana, a nurse leader in Ternopil, said nurses have done everything themselves. “We have distribution centres with students and other volunteers, and we are receiving supply chains from Poland and other countries. We are distributing everything we receive to the cities that need it.”
Ukrainian nurses have appealed for psychological support and medical supplies (including tourniquets, drugs, antibiotics, disposable gowns). Anyone who wishes and can donate to the ICN Humanitarian Fund in support of nurses in Ukraine can do so here.
In addition, ICN launched the #NursesForPeace social campaign with the aim of uniting nurses from around the world in solidarity with nurses from Ukraine. It is important that nurses around the world share their dissent for the war with one voice. Share, re-share and make your voice high to stop the violence! #NursesForPeace
Elizabeth Adams, EFN President concluded by saying: “Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with all our colleagues in Ukraine. We know the incredible work you are doing, and we are looking for any opportunity to be able to support you in any way possible. We have heard your pleas today, particularly to try and move towards a more peaceful resolution in the future. You have EFN’s full support, and we continue working with all our colleagues to continue to support you. We sincerely thank our other colleagues in border countries for the incredible work they are doing as well. “