The Ukrainian healthcare system is dealing with a huge number of war-wounded but lacks the expertise and capacity to provide early, adapted post-operative follow—up. After they underwent emergency surgical interventions, many of these patients they are left without proper rehabilitation and face a serious risk of major long-term consequences. Their recovery may remain incomplete or take much longer than necessary, affecting their lives and weighing on the healthcare system.

Since June 2022, MSF has been running a rehabilitation project for war-wounded patients in Kyiv and Vinnytsia, in central Ukraine. This project aims to support the rehabilitation process of war-wounded by providing both physical and mental health care.), focusing on early physiotherapy for postsurgical patients. We adopted a capacity-building approach, as bedside care is coupled with bedside training for local staff – the idea is to empower the Ukrainian healthcare system to enhance its capacity to provide effective post-operative care for the war-wounded.

MSF teams have provided over 1,500 post-operative care sessions for over 110 war-wounded patients between June and October 2022.