Being a doctor is more than a job to me, it’s a calling. As a child, I helped my grandmother who was a nurse care for her patients. I never dreamed of doing anything else – I've always cared for people.
Prior to the war escalating, I worked in a home for elderly and disabled veterans in Mariupol. I ended up staying there for weeks around the clock – my patients really needed me and the bombing made it too dangerous to leave. Once my patients were able to evacuate, I still wanted to help.
I started driving around to see patients that had been displaced by the war. My own car became my clinic.
Eventually I started working with the IRC mobile medical team to see patients who couldn't otherwise be reached. The war had shut down medical and transit systems in many communities.
This meant many people, especially elderly and those too sick to evacuate, had no way to find care unless we came to them.
Local doctors and nurses have left the villages where I currently work, and locals don't have any access to basic medical help. I'm proud to be with the IRC where we are one of the only resources in these hard to reach areas.
Donate now to send 3x the emergency aid to Ukraine and crisis zones around the world.
I am happy to ask you to support the IRC this Giving Tuesday because we are providing assistance no other organization is able to in Ukraine.
The first few times our mobile medical team saw new patients we had to explain they could trust us to follow up, that we would not abandon them.
It's a promise I'm proud to keep, but it's only possible with your support.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity, especially today.
Dr. Oleg
Dr. Oleg Marchenko
Ukraine Mobile Medical Clinic
International Rescue Committee
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