The Ukrainian government has been stunned by the "impeccable condition" of New Zealand ambulances sent to bolster the country’s rescue services, leading it to ask for another 20 emergency vehicles.
Seven retired ambulances were sent to the war-torn country earlier this year, and have now been painted in camouflage and sent to medical units operating in conflict hotspots. They are providing essential care to regions being battered by shelling and constant fighting.
In a New Zealand context, the ambulances are obsolete – having reached a mileage where maintenance is more costly and difficult to keep up with. The cost of maintaining the vehicles becomes higher than it would be to buy new ones, and the time spent being repaired would hold them back from being used to save lives.
But for Ukraine, a country in desperate need of emergency vehicles, they have proven to be life-saving – which is why the government is now asking for more.
In a letter from Ukraine's Department of Defence, seen by 1News, to Tenby Powell – a Kiwi aid worker on the ground, based in Kyiv – the ambulances were described as being in “impeccable condition”, which is why they want 20 more of the same quality.
Tenby, founder of Kiwi K.A.R.E, which delivered the ambulances, said that compared to what other countries are sending, New Zealand and Australia’s ambulances are performing thanks to how they're maintained back home.
Former Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell joins Q+A to talk about his work on the ground in Ukraine, getting humanitarian aid in and refugees out. (Source: 1News)
“I've helped bring ambulances in with other teams before, and they've been good. You know, these were Polish ambulances. However, some of the ambulances that I've seen arrive are only good for spare parts,” he said.
“These ambulances, while not fit for purpose in New Zealand, have been incredibly well maintained.
“And I think that's the difference between some ambulance services and St John, New Zealand, and indeed the Australian ambulances, is that they are well maintained at a higher level which makes it easier to keep them running here.
“But they sell them before they get into the heavy maintenance post the 300,000 km point, or thereabouts, and the ambulances that we got were between 350 and 400,000 kms, most of them.”
Once retired, ambulances are often sold – but are being offered new life as a crucial part of frontline aid.
Powell said that because Ukraine is a country at war, their maintenance standards are different, making the Kiwi vehicles perfect for what they need.
“They'll run it in a way where if it's not up to scratch, they'll run it anyway,” Powell said.
“If they didn't have beds in the back, they'd run them anyway. They’d just put mattresses in the back and haul 10 guys out if they have to.
“St John clearly can't do that.”
In areas hit most hard by the war, properly working ambulances are vital when it comes to saving lives.
Powell talked about the “golden hour”, which is when the chances of survival from a serious wound or injury dramatically go up if treated immediately.
“It's a very different, degree different statistic, as after two hours it just drops and drops and drops.
“And I'm talking about very bad injuries that we would classify as a priority one wound, like a sucking chest wound for example.”
Because of the constant and high rate of fire from artillery, missiles, anti-aircraft and drones, it’s almost impossible to provide helicopter evacuations, which is why good ambulances are necessary. Kiwi K.A.R.E has also provided shipping containers, which are being dug in at the front as first-line surgical facilities for stabilisation.
All ambulances have now been painted and sent to “red zones” where they’re most needed – the charity has kept one, named Manaaki, which will be painted in Kiwi colours “like an Air New Zealand plane” to provide a healthcare Outreach Programme to people in some of Ukraine’s newly liberated areas.
“In some cases, Ukrainians haven't seen a health professional for years, let alone months. We forget that parts of Ukraine have been under occupation since 2014,” Powell said.
The focus of this programme will be to reach areas in heavy conflict and newly liberated parts of the country.
Kiwi K.A.R.E is a charity that relies on donations to maintain its humanitarian aid operation in Ukraine, and they are urging people to donate to their giveallittle.
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