Cherkasy Clinics

Cherkasy is in the center of the Ukraine, equidistant from Mykolaiv and Kyiv. If has been less affected by the war. Just drone attacks and hosting many people from the east and south of the Ukraine who have been displaced by Russia’s invasion. It looks pretty normal from the outside.

We held day long clinics for two days in Cherkasy in the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) housing. These are multistory Soviet era buildings with one room apartments and communal toilets/showers. One building had been partially renovated but with the same soviet level of comfort. The population is partially stable. Many are too poor to be able to move to normal lodging and have been here for many months. The other portion is transient, with new people arriving mostly from the east where the Russians have advanced and leaving when they arrange longer term lodging. 

The clinic population was familiar with many patients seen by either me or my provider compatriots from November 2024. As before, most were older women with various chronic problems including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and one form or another of PTSD. Their blood pressure readings were almost invariably elevated with some ridiculously high readings which they somehow tolerated. We did our best to manage their problems with a relatively basic formulary of generic medications. I think that we did a pretty good job and made a difference. Often, just listening to them was therapeutic. Both for the patient and for us. 

It is a little more relaxing to see patients here. There are fewer drones here and you can’t hear artillery which is a plus. It does seem to be easier on the patients. However, Cherkasy means that the trip is drawing to a close with both some sadness and some relief. It is reassuring though that Global Care Force will have another team here next month. We leave for Kyiv next and then on to Krakow Poland for our flights home. Thanks for following along with this blog and please remember to pray for the people of the Ukraine.