Themes by tag: doctors

On October 25, celebrated British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, a pioneer of neurosurgical care in Ukraine and best-selling author, will meet with Lviv doctors to deliver a lecture on the importance of teamwork in medicine. Marsh refers to the lecture as “Team Work.”

The event is open to accredited attendees only.

For reference: Marsh is a renowned British neurosurgeon with extensive experience performing thousands of brain and spinal cord surgeries across the UK and internationally. He was educated at Westminster School and later at Oxford University, where he studied political science, philosophy, and economics. He earned his medical degree with honors from the Royal Medical School. Throughout his career, he worked at Atkinson Morley Hospital, home to one of the most advanced neurosurgical units in the UK. In 2014, he authored Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery, a memoir that, despite being aimed at medical professionals, became a global bestseller.

Marsh first visited Ukraine in the 1990s to share his expertise with local neurosurgeons, earning him the title of a pioneer in advancing Ukraine’s neurosurgical field. Since then, he has made around 30 visits to the country, often consulting and operating on critically ill patients, including those at the First Medical Union of Lviv. 

• doctors
• Lviv

On October 26-27, the Ukrainian-Israeli medical volunteer mission FRIDA will be in the Kherson region, offering local residents the chance to receive medical consultations and undergo necessary examinations. The volunteer medical team will include specialists such as a neurologist, ultrasound technician, gynecologist, dermatologist, psychologist, ophthalmologist, physical therapist, pediatrician, ENT doctor, vascular surgeon, dentist, and endocrinologist.

This visit is part of the project “Comprehensive Medical and Psychological Support with Improved Referral System for the Population of Explosive Hazard-Affected Communities in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson Oblasts.” The initiative, led by FRIDA Ukraine, is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the “Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine” project, with financial backing from the Government of Japan.

Details about the visit’s location will be provided following accreditation.

For reference: FRIDA Ukraine is a non-governmental, non-profit charitable mission of volunteer doctors from Ukraine and Israel. Since the onset of the invasion, the organization has been offering emergency and outpatient medical care to civilians affected by the conflict. 

Their services include 

• outpatient appointments;
• medical care for orphanages and boarding schools;
• civilian evacuations;
• training of medical volunteers.

• casualties
• doctors
• volunteers

Nataliia Holubieva, a medical doctor by profession, co-founded and leads the Kherson Oblast Medicine charity foundation, which provides humanitarian aid to hospitals and patients. During the russian occupation of Kherson, she remained in the city, continuing her volunteer work, including sourcing scarce medicines from the Ukrainian-controlled areas.

Following the liberation of part of the region, Holubieva turned her focus to helping residents affected by the occupiers’ destruction of the Kakhovka HPP. She coordinated efforts to resettle those displaced, ensuring they received clothing, food, and medical supplies.

Holubieva stayed in Kherson until August 2023, when intensifying russian shelling with guided bombs forced her to leave for Kropyvnytskyi with her child. On the anniversary of Kherson’s liberation, she established the “United by Kherson Region” Humanitarian Aid Center, which now supports over 1,500 people (560 families) displaced from the Kherson region. The Center also aids residents from other hard-hit areas, including Melitopol, Crimea, and Kharkiv, and assists medical and educational institutions by providing medicine and hygiene products.

Holubieva dreams of opening a medical center specifically for displaced persons, where she can offer both psychological and humanitarian assistance. She is currently searching for a location while pursuing a degree in psychology to further help those in need.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Nataliia in Kropyvnytskyi or online by appointment.

Background: Kherson was occupied by russian forces in March 2022, shortly after the invasion began. Ukraine retook the city of Kherson from occupying russian forces on November 11, 2022, though russian shelling continues.

• casualties
• doctors
• occupation
• volunteers
• women
• Kherson

Feliks Rasko, a 36-year-old Ukrainian Armed Forces veteran, has a remarkable story of resilience. He enlisted in the military at 18, first serving through conscription before signing a contract to continue his service. After his military career, he worked as a conductor for Ukraine’s Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia.

When russia’s full-scale invasion began, Feliks promptly re-enlisted. For eight months, he fought in some of the most intense battle zones, including Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Rubizhne, and Yampolivka. In October 2022, while stationed in Donetsk, enemy missiles struck the building where Feliks and his fellow soldiers were sheltering. Trapped under debris and engulfed by flames, Feliks put out the fire on his burning hands himself, while his comrades helped extinguish the fire on his head. Despite their injuries, the soldiers managed to escape and were evacuated by medics.

Feliks sustained serious injuries, which greatly impacted his mobility. His wife learned about the Unburned project, a free rehabilitation program, and applied on his behalf, submitting photos of his burns. A month later, Feliks began his treatment. Today, after completing rehabilitation, he has returned to work with Ukrzaliznytsia, now as a service center engineer in Kyiv, rather than his previous role as a conductor.

For reference: The Unburned project, supported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and partners, offers free, comprehensive treatment for military personnel, volunteers, civilians, and children affected by burns and scars caused by the war.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

Save Ukraine, a charitable organization, in collaboration with the ICF “Contribution to Medicine Development”, has launched a new initiative called the Medical Bus. This social project aims to provide residents of remote Ukrainian communities, where access to doctors is limited, with essential medical services.

The Medical Bus, a large vehicle converted into a mobile clinic by German partners, is fully equipped to offer preventive exams and medical care on the go. Patients can consult with specialized doctors, receive free glasses, undergo ultrasounds, and have their blood sugar levels checked, among other services. 

Recently, the mobile clinic visited the village of Lukashi in Kyiv Oblast, where many residents had their first doctor’s visit in years. 

The Medical Bus will continue its operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, delivering much-needed healthcare to those who need it most.

• doctors
• Chernihiv
• Kyiv

On August 29, St. Luke’s Hospital in Lviv will mark a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new modular Mental Health Center. Media representatives are invited to attend this event at Lviv’s First Medical Union.

The upcoming Mental Health Center will offer specialized psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care to both civilians and military personnel, including local residents and internally displaced persons. 

The 900-square-meter, fully accessible facility will feature two main sections: an inpatient unit with 32 beds and an outpatient area equipped for individual and group therapy sessions. A 65-square-meter glass terrace is also planned, providing a serene space for inpatients to relax. The building will be designed without thresholds, with handrails and optimally wide doorways, ensuring ease of movement for patients using wheelchairs, prostheses, or other assistive devices.

Speakers:

• Andriy Sadovyi, Lviv Mayor;
• Vasyl Trunkwalter, St. Luke’s Hospital Director
• Christian Schuchardt, Mayor of Würzburg, Lviv’s sister city in Germany.

Prior accreditation is required for media attendance.

• doctors
• Lviv

On August 12, Media Center Ukraine is set to be the venue for a briefing on “The Surge in COVID-19 Cases in Ukraine and the Spread of New Omicron Sub-Variants.”

The briefing will delve into several key issues, including the current COVID-19 status in Ukraine, updated vaccination guidelines as issued by the Ministry of Health, and emerging global and local trends related to the spread of new COVID-19 strains and influenza. The event will also feature a forecast and risk assessment from the World Health Organization (WHO), offering insights into the potential impact of these developments.

Participants:

– Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine;

– Fedir Lapii, Head of the National Technical Group of Experts on Immunization, immunologist;

– Aron Aregay, Information Management and Risk Assessment Officer at the World Health Organization CO in Ukraine. 

For reference: Ukraine is experiencing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, with the number of reported cases increasing fivefold since May 2024. Furthermore, the detection of three cases of the new Omicron sub-variant, FLiRT, in July signals the arrival of potentially more transmissible strains. 

This surge mirrors broader European trends, where elderly populations are particularly affected by a growing number of positive COVID-19 cases, according to the latest joint bulletin from the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. 

• doctors
• Kyiv

On July 28, a charity run to support Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital Okhmatdyt will be held in Kyiv to commemorate the Medical Workers’ Day.

The goal of the race is to help the hospital recover from the russian missile attack on July 8, 2024 by collecting UAH 1 million.

For reference: As a result of the russian attack on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital on July 8, 2024, two people died. 32 injured people sought medical help.

• casualties
• children
• dead
• doctors
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

On July 26, a new exhibition celebrating Ukrainian women doctors will open in conjunction with the launch of the Dictionary of Courage project. The media are invited to the event, which includes a press briefing. The photo exhibition coincides with the Day of the Medical Worker, showcasing 24 compelling stories from medical professionals across Ukraine. 

The project aims to craft visual narratives and psychological portraits of these doctors, who are dedicated to saving lives and helping those in dire need. Each interview features a selected keyword that has been incorporated into the Dictionary of Courage.

Participants:

• Serhii Dubrov, First Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine; 
• Mustafa Elkanzi, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine (UNFPA);
• Representative of the Embassy of the French Republic in Ukraine; 
• Representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine; 
• Nataliia Heinz, neonatologist at the Kyiv Oblast Perinatal Center.  

Media representatives must register by 6:00 PM on July 25.

• culture
• doctors
• Kyiv

On July 25, Kyiv will organize a special concert titled “Music that Saves” in honor of Medical Worker’s Day. The event will celebrate doctors and wounded soldiers receiving treatment and will include a presentation on efforts to prevent amputations among military personnel.

Performers at the concert will include Oleh Sobchuk (of SKY), Marta Adamchuk, Dima Libra, Alex Peakman, Daria Minieieva, and Vasyl Lohay. The concert is organized by the National Program #SavetheLimb team.

Prior to the concert, a press cocktail will feature appearances by wounded soldiers who have avoided amputation thanks to the efforts of doctors and the program. These defenders will share their personal stories of injury and recovery.

The event requires accreditation.

For context: #SavetheLimb is the largest program in Ukraine, following the National Health Service of Ukraine, offering support to war victims across over 20 cities. It funds costly limb-saving surgeries that are not covered by state health services.

• casualties
• doctors
• Kyiv