Power for Health in Ukraine

Over the last year, we have watched Russia attack Ukraine's sovereignty, plunging the country into the dark. Even without power, heat or water, Ukrainians are holding strong. Throughout this crisis, countless Americans have expressed a desire to assist, and many have generously donated to Unite to Light and other organizations, helping to provide essential aid to those in need. Thanks to your unwavering support, thousands of Ukrainians now have access to critical resources such as light and power.

We recently sat down with representatives from two of our amazing on the ground partners: Direct Relief and New Use Energy. They spoke on their work in Ukraine, the importance of light and power to the people of Ukraine, and what they see as the biggest needs going forward. What follows below is a summary of that discussion.

We started with an overview from Chris Alleway, Manager, Emergency Response & New Initiatives, Direct Relief. Chris shared the following: ​

Direct Relief is deploying urgently needed medical aid directly to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, with which it has a standing agreement, and to other on-the-ground organizations in Ukraine and throughout the region.  Since the war broke out, Direct Relief has deployed more than 1,350 tons of medical assistance and more than $30.8 million in financial assistance, including trauma kits, cancer drugs, insulin, antidotes used in chemical attacks, and direct cash aid. Direct Relief has also supplied hundreds of emergency medical backpacks for first responders working in the field and dealing with injuries, trauma, infections, and other acute medical needs. They have also supplied over 10,000 personal hygiene kits to individuals, that include Unite to Light solar powered Luke Lights. ​

Direct Relief tub being delivered in Ukraine. Photo courtesy: Direct Relief.

When asked about the role of power in healthcare, Chris stated “"Power is key to equitable access to healthcare." Chris referenced one of Direct Relief’s newer initiatives: Power for Health. “Without power, critical health services can’t be provided – lifesaving medicines go bad, electronic health records can’t be accessed, essential medical equipment can’t be powered, and vital community health facilities serving the most vulnerable shut down.” He talked about clinics needing refrigeration for insulin and vaccines. 

Then we shifted the conversation to New Use Energy (NUE), a US company with family ties to Ukraine. We were joined by Paul Shmotolokha, CEO and Oleksii Zemlynskyi, their Ukraine Director based in Lviv. NUE has been shipping aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, and was Unite to Light’s first partner when we shipped 1000 Luke Lights to hospitals and clinics in Kharkiv, Uman, Chernobyl, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Volyn, Zaporiza and Vinnitsa in early 2022. These units are crucial for nurses and patients to have access to light as many of the hospitals have been without reliable power. They have also distributed over 500 Unite to Light Chandler Chargers to Ukrainians living without electricity.
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Boy in a Children's Hospital in Ukraine using our Luke Light to read. Photo courtesy: New Use Energy

Their focus is on providing mobile, rapidly deployable solar generators for commercial uses. In Ukraine they are focusing on hospitals, field hospitals, clinics and frontline area stabilization points. They design units for these users, with the support of Direct Relief. 

​In medical facilities in Ukraine, solar power has become a vital resource because it is uninterruptible for use in operations and ICUs, it can be moved to critical locations within the hospital (including bomb shelters where gas generators can’t be used), and it can be deployed on the front lines where weight and maneuverability are vital. Oleksii told us about installing solar power for a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and how important these systems are across Ukraine. 

Operating room in Ukraine powered by a solar battery. Photo courtesy: New Use Energy

In the US most hospitals have backup generators that are diesel powered, but in Ukraine, diesel generators have many disadvantages, including: 

• Diesel generator units and  fuel are expensive, it is difficult to get diesel fuel, and they are difficult to maintain.
  
• ​Some hospitals have outdated electrical systems that don't support a centralized power source.
• Diesel generators cannot be run in underground bunkers due to air pollution
  
• ​Diesel generators are a heat source, which means they become very easy targets for Russian heat-map attacks. 

Solar generators solve all of these problems, and NUE has even worked to develop a solar collector that is not reflective to further decrease the “visibility” of these systems. 

Solar array deployed at a healthcare facility in Ukraine. Photo courtesy: Direct Relief

Direct Relief and NUE continue to work in Ukraine to help hospitals, clinics and individuals. We at Unite to Light are honored to be a part of this effort. Together we have deployed over 12,300 Luke Lights and 2,215 Chandler Chargers to Ukraine. We plan to ship more this month. 

To stay up to date on all that is happening, please follow:
Unite to Light   
New Use Energy
Direct Relief 

We’ll end with a quote from Halyna in Kherson City Council after they received a shipment of Chargers: 
"My dear, colleagues!
Oh, my God!
I can't believe my eyes!
I can't imagine the eyes of my people in the most dangerous places of my city!
You are the best!"

We could not have done this without our amazing supporters and partners. A special shout-out to the Senior Community at Linden Ponds in Hingham, MA for running not one, but TWO fundraisers for Luke Lights and Chandler Chargers to be sent to Ukraine.  Also to the group of 14 Rotary and Rotaract Clubs who have supported this effort. Thank you all for lighting the world. 

The Luke Light illuminating beautiful Banksy street art in Ukraine. Photo courtesy: New Use Energy