David Beckham’s Instagram account taken over by doctor in Ukraine as Man Utd legend issues heartfelt plea
DAVID Beckham’s Instagram account has today been taken over by a doctor in Ukraine in a bid to show the reality of their struggling medical facilities.
The Man United legend issued a heartfelt plea to his followers to support the “incredible people” working in “appalling conditions”.
He praised the head of the regional perinatal centre and child anesthesiologist Iryna before handing over his social media account to her on Sunday.
The dedicated doc detailed her plight caring for newborn babies and their mothers in Kharkiv as the war in Ukraine rages on.
Iryna told how on the first day of the devastating conflict, pregnant women and mothers had to be “evacuated to the basement”.
She explained: “It was a terrible three hours that we spent together.
“Unfortunately, we can’t take babies who are in intensive care to the basement because they rely on life-saving equipment.
“The first days were the most difficult. We had to learn how to work with bombings and strikes.”
Harrowing video footage shows the ramshackle basement which has been converted into a shelter for new and expecting mums.
A string of devastating airstrikes on maternity hospitals across Ukraine has appalled the world.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky branded the brutal attacks as an act of “genocide” as vulnerable women and children were targeted.
Iryna said she stays at the facility all day while juggling her roles as head of the clinic and a paediatric anesthesiologist, as well as managing logistics and offering emotional support to patients.
She then shared the heart-wrenching tale of a woman named Yana and her baby boy Mykhailo.
The tot was born on the second day of the war with breathing problems.
Iryna added: “He is better now but his family’s house was destroyed and they can’t go back.
“The oxygen generators we received from @Unicef help provide oxygen for children in the basement.
“We are probably risking our lives, but we don’t think about it at all. We love our work.”
We are probably risking our lives, but we don’t think about it at all. We love our work.
Iryna
Social media users flooded the comment section with praise for both brave Iryna and 46-year-old Becks for throwing his weight behind the campaign.
Dad-of-four David and his wife Victoria earlier donated £1million in support of Ukrainians while launching Unicef’s Emergency Appeal for the war-torn country.
The former England captain – who became a Unicef ambassador in 2005 – urged his 71.2 million Instagram followers to help fund the “vital work on the ground”.
He has worked as an ambassador for Unicef for 17 years and works tirelessly publicly and privately to help them.
The Sun revealed at the end of last year the extent of the help he lends the charity, including the enormous private sums he donates.
An insider explained: “David raises around £5million a year to support Unicef.
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“This is in addition to the women and children’s projects he funds under the umbrella of his 7 Fund.
“Over the years he has probably raised over £50m for Unicef and other charities and also quietly gives about a million a year from his own pocket.”