Ukraine: MSF helps provide physiotherapy for people with war wounds

"In Kyiv, it's a very big hospital where war-wounded patients arrive," said Diana Galindo, MSF medical coordinator. "They receive patients from the east and the south, where the first surgeries are done, and then they are sent to Kyiv to continue their care. We see that most of them are amputees, and they are presenting now with heavier handicaps than if they were treated properly with rehabilitation."

When high-quality physiotherapy is provided early enough, patients can avoid more severe disabilities such as permanently losing their mobility. However, physical rehabilitation is not a well-established sector of the Ukrainian health care system, and there aren't enough experienced and skilled specialists to meet the high level of need.

By working within Ukrainian hospitals, MSF is helping increase the local capacity to provide physical rehabilitation. In July and August, more than 110 patients received physical rehabilitation as part of MSF's collaboration with the two hospitals. While MSF is not involved in surgery in these hospitals or in the fitting of the prostheses, our staff support patients once they have been fitted with prostheses, helping them recover their mobility.