The round ball also mobilizes for Ukraine. On Sunday, March 20, football star David Beckham wanted to put his fame at the service of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. For a day, the former Manchester United player lent his Instagram account to a Ukrainian doctor in Kharkiv’s perinatal center. A strong and supportive gesture from Beckham, who also appealed for donations.
The former England international is also UNICEF ambassador. It is in this context that he carried out this exceptional operation, announced on his Instagram account, as reported The HuffPost† “Today I hand over my social networks to Iryna, director of the regional perinatal center in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where she helps mothers give birth”he said in a video that has been viewed more than 5 million times. “Check out my stories to learn more about the amazing work Iryna and healthcare professionals like her are doing to save lives in Ukraine. Give what you can to UNICEF and people like Iryna. to supporthe added.
Keep working, despite the bombs
The 71.5 million people who have subscribed to Beckham’s Instagram account have been able to glimpse the daily life of Dr. Iryna, completely turned upside down by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The care center where she works in Kharkov has been renovated underground, protected from bombs, to accommodate mothers and pregnant women. In addition to the logistical aspects, Iryna is a pediatric anesthetist and takes the time to provide emotional support to her patients. And this, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and despite the disturbances associated with the bombings, as indicated The HuffPost†
Since the conflict, UNICEF has sent material and equipment to this hospital as reinforcements. In particular, this makes it possible to continue the care of infants, who are auscultated in underground spaces where the different services coexist. However, the shelter does not have the necessary equipment to care for babies in intensive care, specifies The HuffPost†
A call for donations to continue treating
Through stories, Iryna was able to share these exceptional and difficult working conditions.“We are probably risking our lives, but we don’t think about it at all. We love our job…Doctors and nurses here, we worry, we cry, but none of us will give up”, the doctor said in a story on David Bekcham’s Instagram account. The hospital where she works urgently needs donations to continue its activities. “Every donation and every donor is important to us. A huge thank you to the whole world for its support”the doctor continued.
By lending his Instagram account, David Beckham enabled Iryna to spread his appeal to millions of people.