Themes by tag: doctors

Olha was an operating room nurse at the Department of Surgery in Hospital No. 555 in Mariupol. Russia’s full-scale invasion caught her while in Mariupol: she was helping to rescue wounded soldiers and civilians (including children). At that time, the medics did not even have time to sleep.

The enemy bomb hit the hospital on March 16, 2022. (The woman was in the operating room at the moment of the attack. The blast wave blew away her and her colleagues). The next day, the nurse was sent to the Ilich Iron and Steel Works together with other doctors. Under extremely tough conditions, in a bunker, they had to do, among other things, bandages and amputations, and doctors even performed open brain neurosurgery.

On April 12, 2022, the nurse and other doctors were taken prisoner. Olha was held in occupied Olenivka, Russian Taganrog, Valuiky, and Kursk, among other places. She was held in captivity for six months. The woman faced humiliation, interrogations, physical and psychological pressure.

Journalists seeking to interview Olha can reach her either in person in Kyiv.

• casualties
• doctors
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv
• Mariupol

FRIDA Ukraine’s largest medical volunteer mission is once again preparing to go to Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Chernihiv regions as well as other oblasts, whose residents have been cut off from access to high quality medical care. In particular, 4 such missions are planned for April, and five for May.

The closest consultations will be held in Kherson and Donetsk regions: April 12-14 and April 20-21, respectively.

The team members themselves set up field clinics on site, where they conduct physical examinations and consultations as well as diagnose illnesses. If necessary medical volunteers do surgeries and provide free medicine to vulnerable categories of the civilian population, in particular, children who suffered from the full-scale invasion and occupation.

The media representatives are invited to join these missions.

For reference: During the 2 years of its existence, the FRIDA Ukraine medical volunteer mission made about 100 trips to the frontline and de-occupied areas.

• casualties
• doctors
• volunteers

The Hearing Restoration Department has started working at the Superhumans Center in Lviv. According to the Center, every third military or civilian patient in the institutions has experienced hearing loss and needs specialized help encompassing medical treatment, hearing aids and surgical intervention. That is why, together with the specialists of Vidchuy (Feel) NGO, from now on the Center will help to restore another opportunity lost due to the war.

Within just a few days of the department’s operation, Superhumans specialists examined 32 patients, of whom 7 people needed surgical interventions (tympanoplasty), 2 needed hearing aids, another 2 needed cochlear implants, and 12 were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, which requires constant monitoring.

All the Superhumans Center’s patients with acoustic trauma undergo examinations and remain under the supervision of the Center’s otolaryngologists as well as work with the specialists of Vidchuy NGO, mainly deaf educators and speech therapists.

• casualties
• doctors
• Lviv

After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 8,500 Ukrainian children were left without parental care, more than 1,500 became orphans, tens of thousands lost their homes or were forced to relocate. Children’s homes and orphanages in Ukraine are under great pressure today, their resources are exhausted, and access to quality medical care is limited.

As part of the “Little Hearts” project, FRIDA takes care of Children’s homes and orphanages in different parts of Ukraine. Teams consisting of volunteer doctors of different specializations travel to these institutions to examine children and determine if they need medicines, vaccinations, rehabilitation and surgical interventions.

Pediatricians will visit a children’s home in Kyiv region in April.

Media representatives are invited to cover the missions under this project.

• casualties
• children
• doctors
• Kyiv

In a collaborative effort, plastic surgeons from Canada, the United States, and Ukraine are gearing up for the third installment of the “Face the Future Ukraine” medical mission. It aims to provide reconstructive facial surgery to wounded military personnel and civilians. A total of 30 surgeries are slated to be performed on individuals who have sustained severe mine-blast injuries to their faces and necks. The patients come from various regions of Ukraine and include both military personnel and civilians affected by the war. Led by a team of 15 international specialists, the medical mission follows on the heels of two previous successful endeavors, during which “Face the Future Ukraine” surgeons assisted 60 Ukrainians in need. Notably, all surgeries are provided free of charge.

• doctors
• Ivano-Frankivsk

The ‘Doctors for Heroes’ charity project is dedicated to assisting both military personnel and civilians who have suffered facial and head injuries, offering vital reconstruction services. To date, the project has aided 107 military individuals and one civilian.

Under this initiative, skilled surgeons and bioengineers generously provide their expertise pro bono, ensuring patients receive essential medical care. However, for the reconstruction of skull bones, specialized implants are required. Recognizing this need, the Eastern Star Charitable Foundation, the driving force behind the project, has committed to covering the costs of producing these implants for each participant. To fund this crucial aspect, the foundation relies on donations, carefully managing the allocation of resources to ensure targeted assistance. Moreover, it offers ongoing support to patients throughout their treatment journey.

Journalists seeking insights into this impactful endeavor can arrange interviews with project organizers, medical professionals, and beneficiaries in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

Valerii Dzeh, a Kharkiv native, initially made his mark as an educator in local kindergartens and development centers. However, his journey took a creative turn when he delved into the world of puppet theater, ultimately co-founding a troupe in his hometown. Their breakthrough came in 2021 with the staging of a Ukrainian-themed play rooted in mythology, sparking the theater to start turning a profit and compensating its actors.

But it was on February 24, 2022, that Valerii’s fate called him to a new stage. Amid the intense Russian bombardment of Kharkiv’s northern neighborhood Saltivka, his mission shifted to humanitarian aid, evacuating vulnerable residents, particularly those with disabilities. Alongside his wife, he traversed the perilous streets, delivering sustenance and medicines to those in need.

With the city liberated in late 2022, Valerii’s resolve intensified. He enlisted in the 59th OMPB as a combat medic and became a part of the Cultural Forces unit. Alongside fellow service members with artistic backgrounds, Dzeh embarked on a mission to bring morale-boosting puppet shows to the recently liberated Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Performing both behind the lines and on the front, Dzeh believes his work plays a crucial role in uplifting the emotional well-being of military personnel.

For reference: Valerii Dzeh stands firm on the front lines, ready to share his story with journalists, online or offline, upon arrangement.

• culture
• doctors
• military

In a bid to prevent amputations among Ukrainians injured in Russia’s aggression, the “Save the Limb” national initiative is teaming up with artists. On March 31, Kyiv will host the “Sorrow and Love” charity dinners, with entry granted upon donation.

The evening’s lineup boasts performances by renowned Ukrainian musicians, stand-up comedy by Ramil Yangulov, a DJ set by Bodrov, and a charity auction featuring a photo draw by war documentary filmmakers Konstiantyn and Vladyslava Liberov, aka Libkos.

Attendees will groove to tunes by artists like Dima Libra, GEED (Hidayat Seyidov), and INSHAYA, whose spouse serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Headlining the event is HARNA, a talented multi-instrumentalist artist, Ukrainian musician, and former participant of “The Voice of Ukraine 11” and Eurovision 2020’s national selection.

All funds raised at the event will go towards surgeries for the wounded under the “Save the Limb” program of the Health of the Ukrainian People Foundation.

For context: “Save the Limb” stands as one of Ukraine’s premier programs, offering aid to war victims and funding costly limb-saving surgeries not covered by the state. Since its 2022 inception, the program has aided over a thousand Ukrainians.

• casualties
• culture
• doctors
• Kyiv

Prior to the invasion, Moisei Bondarenko showcased his musical talents as a professional violinist, even gracing the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, when duty called on February 25, 2022, he answered, transitioning into a combat medic for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Despite the challenges of frontline duty, Moisei continued to share his gift of music with his fellow soldiers, often serenading them with his violin in the evening. His dedication didn’t go unnoticed, as his colleagues willingly covered his shifts to allow him this opportunity. After serving a year in the medical corps, Moisei made a remarkable shift to the infantry, joining the Cultural Forces unit. Now, his mission extends beyond the battlefield as he provides crucial moral and psychological support to his comrades, using music as his tool. Moisei’s performances have taken him to the very edge of danger, with one notable instance seeing him play just 900 meters from baseline. Yet, for him, music remains a source of strength in the midst of war raging.

For reference: Moisei Bondarenko is available for interviews with journalists, both online and offline, with prior arrangement. 

• culture
• doctors
• military

Myshko Adamchak became a soldier in the russo-Ukrainian war back in 2015 when he joined the Hospitallers volunteer medical as a paramedic. He took a musical instrument — a sopilka (Ukrainian folk woodwind instrument) — with him to the front. After all, music has always been a part of Myshko’s life. Back in 2006, together with his friends, he founded “KoraLLi” band, which he also leads.

After active fighting in the East, Myshko returned to civilian life and concerts with his band. However, with the beginning of the big war, Myshko returned to the battalion again. First, he was in Kyiv region, then in Kharkiv and Kherson regions. In between rescuing the wounded and combat missions, Myshko played the flute for his brothers in arms. The soldier made a video of himself playing a tune – the Hutsul “Arkan” – right in the trenches, and the video went viral. His melody was covered by artists from the U.S., Slovakia and even China.

For reference: Myshko Adamchak is on the front line. The paramedic is ready to communicate with journalists, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• doctors