Tennessee hospitals joined a collaborative humanitarian relief effort to support Ukraine and Poland in the donation of needed medical items and equipment. Collectively, hospitals across the state and partner healthcare organizations provided 85 pallets of medical supplies in a matter of 10 days. The first shipment of supplies was delivered on Tuesday, March 22. A second load is expected to be delivered in the coming days.
“Hospitals in Tennessee were quick to respond when called upon and were honored to lend whatever support they could to residents of Ukraine who are far from home and in need of critical medical treatment,” said Wendy Long, M.D., president and CEO of the Tennessee Hospital Association. “We commend and stand with our medical colleagues and the hospital teams in Ukraine and Poland who are hard at work rendering lifesaving care with limited resources in a challenging environment. Our hearts and prayers are with them for the days and weeks that lay ahead.”
Launched in Tennessee by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the relief effort was supported by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee National Guard, THA, the Nashville Health Care Council, and Nashville-based global health non-profit Hope Through Healing Hands, which Frist founded in 200. Healthcare organizations in Nashville and across the state have contributed life-saving medications and supplies to those in need in Ukraine and Poland.