As part of its support to Ukrainian hospitals, Humanity & Inclusion is providing specialized physical therapy training for health professionals treating burns patients, which requires special knowledge and skills.
Humanity & Inclusion has already delivered online training to rehabilitation teams and physical therapy students caring for the injured in three hospitals in Lviv.
“We get a lot of requests for this type of training,” says Virginie Duclos, rehabilitation manager at Humanity & Inclusion and a burns specialist, who is currently working in Ukraine. “Some patients are admitted with burns, which require special skills. When we can’t provide in-person training, we do it online – we try to adapt to the situation and address their needs.”
Mental health and rehabilitation care
In Chernivtsi and the surrounding area, Humanity & Inclusion has already identified 20 institutions hosting displaced people with specific mental health, rehabilitation or other needs. One institution cares for children with multiple disabilities.
“It took these children 24 hours to travel to Chernivtsi by bus,” Duclos explains. “They don’t know the region, they are far from their families, and they have no medical records. There were 10 children in this home - now there are more the 50. They have received no extra staff or money. The teams are doing everything they possibly can, but it’s hard to cope.”
Over the next few days, Humanity & Inclusion plans to help the home recruit additional staff in order to provide children and teams with psychosocial support and rehabilitation care. Teams will also supply essential items, including hygiene products.
Essential humanitarian assistance
At least 12 million people need humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Humanity & Inclusion’s teams continue to identify priority needs and implement an emergency response. The organization plans to provide physical rehabilitation care, distribute hygiene products and essential items, make cash transfers to displaced people for food and housing, and deploy mental health and psychosocial support specialists.
“We’re seeing an acute need for mental health and psychosocial support,” Duclos adds. “Everyone is going through a very emotional time and most people we meet have suffered some kind of trauma. Many of them need specific support.”