SRMC physician in Ukraine serving to these displaced by the battle

As displaced civilians flee to security amid the Russian-Ukrainian battle, the risks don’t cease as soon as they’re out of battle zones.

They’re coping with hypothermia, exhaustion, dehydration and different environmental publicity issues as they wait in line to cross the border. And Dr. Matthew Wilks of Sandoval Regional Medical Center is on the frontlines to assist present primary medical care.

Wilks stated he’s serving to folks not being handled by the native well being care system that has additionally been displaced by the devastation of the battle.

“You can just see it in people’s eyes. They’re distraught,” stated Wilks, who’s aiding a gaggle referred to as Team Rubicon.

Mobile models arrived on the Ukrainian border on Saturday, prepared to help individuals who’ve been ready a couple of hours, if not a couple of days, simply to cross the border.

“In that time, they’re exposed to the cold. It’s winter in northern Europe. It has snowed several days here since I’ve been here,” stated Wilks, who’s been abroad since March 1. “They may spend a few days in line at the border, but they may have been traveling for a week already just to get there… There are thousands of people in line.”

Aside from supplying IV fluids to deal with illnesses like dehydration, Wilks stated Team Rubicon’s offering medicines for diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart illness as a result of folks might not have introduced their medicines with them.

He additionally stated the group’s treating pregnant ladies by helping with deliveries, and is bringing in psychologists and social staff due to the psychological anguish folks have.

“This is extremely traumatic. They’re leaving their homes; they’re leaving their business; they’re leaving their families,” he stated.

If Team Rubicon, a volunteer group that helps communities affected by disasters, encounters one thing it could’t deal with, Wilks stated he coordinates switch agreements with hospitals.

Wilks, an emergency room doctor, stated the six border crossings he goes to course of between 15,000 and 20,000 folks a day, organising stations primarily based on the place the most important want is.

He stated the places are 20 to 50 miles other than one another, and roadblocks, safety checkpoints and security issues might make getting to every location a difficult activity.

“Safety is critically important here for us. We are not going to be deploying anywhere where there’s active fighting,” he stated.

He additionally stated Team Rubicon displays exercise by way of webcams and social media posts to find out which border crossing to deploy to.

“They tend to gravitate to the crossings that have the least people. But then the next day, that crossing has the most people because everybody went that direction,” he stated. “We are a mobile unit, which is one of the distinctions of what Team Rubicon provides.”

Wilks stated his work includes making connections with the United Nations, the World Health Organization and native medical staff to assist civilians get primary medical care. He stated the present plan is to spend the subsequent three months offering medical care on the border, however Team Rubicon can be prepared to remain longer if needed.

“This is a different role for me than usual,” he stated. “Things are going OK. I do feel safe here. The people are great here.”

Wilks stated his prior expertise serving to these in Puerto Rico displaced by Hurricane Maria in 2017, and doing so with restricted sources, helped guarantee he’s well-prepared for what’s occurring in Ukraine.

“When I saw this tragic event unfolding on the news, I felt like I needed to get involved,” he stated.

Dr. Matthew Wilks, Sandoval Regional Medical Center
(Courtesy of UNM Health Sciences)