Military personnel defend our borders – donors care for their children’s health: Why it matters to families of servicemen
There are more than 800,000 military personnel in Ukraine, according to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. More than 1,000 servicemen from the Ladyzhynska community, Vinnytsia region, defend our country. More than half of them have families and children. To support their wives and help care for the health of their descendants, more than 20 health professionals from Okhmatdyt supported by the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation went to Ladyzhyn to conduct medical examinations there. Let us explain why such initiatives matter for military personnel.
Olena Dovhal’s story
Olena Dovhal is a mother of a large family. Her husband, Volodymyr, is a serviceman. Her husband signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in December 2021. Therefore, on the first day of the war, he immediately went to the front line. He fought in different places: from Bakhmut to Kherson. Volodymyr’s eldest son, Ilya, recently joined him at the front line. His youngest son, Zakhar, is still a student. He studies military science. Apart from Zakhar, Olena also cares about two twin daughters: 12-year-old Marta and Varvara.
“I also wished to sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but I with my husband thought that someone should stay and take care of our two daughters. However, we all volunteer and help the Armed Forces. Families with relatives in service cannot just sit idly,” says Olena Dovhal.
The Ladyzhyn Town Council informed Olena about the visit of Okhmatdyt health professionals. They called the families of the military personnel and also organized trips for families from the nearby settlements.
“It is very convenient that we get consultations with such field-specific professionals. For example, I took my daughters to a checkup with a pediatrician, an endocrinologist, and several other doctors. Firstly, it’s spring, so all the tests, including blood tests, are very important. Secondly, Marta and Varvara are at an awkward age, therefore, I need to understand whether the endocrine profile is normal and whether everything is fine. After all, it is easier to prevent diseases than to treat them. Moreover, we don’t have time for that, we have to fight another enemy,” adds Olena.
Why it matters to servicemen
Since the full-scale invasion started, hundreds of residents of Ladyzhyn and Ladyzhyn community have been in service for a long time, so their wives had to take care of children’s upbringing, education, and healthcare.
“As a team of a charitable foundation implementing projects to support our defenders, we know that military personnel need to realize that their families are safe, and have all the required support and help. The military have repeatedly emphasized this. Thus we invited highly qualified health professionals to Ladyzhyn. It took them several hours to conduct a complete examination using ultrasound machines, blood tests, and a primary inspection. They also refer for treatment, if necessary. Such prompt examination is not possible in most private or regional hospitals. It is a unique format we offer to the families of our defenders as thus we can express our gratitude for their work,” explains Petro Andriiets, head of the social development department, MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
Impact of a timely medical examination of children during a full-scale war
This is not the first visit of Okhmatdyt health professionals to Ladyzhyn. There were 4 trips the previous year. In total, they examined 1,058 children. Children from vulnerable categories – preschoolers and school-aged children – were examined first, then – all those willing given the great demand. Then, doctors examined many displaced persons: children from Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, who currently reside in Ladyzhyn. Many of them had no documents or medical cards, which is a significant loss for children who need regular checkups. A comprehensive examination by all Okhmatdyt health professionals was important for hundreds of dozens of families.
During 2023, Okhmatdyt health professionals conducted more than 13,000 consultations in 4 regions of Ukraine in total. There, many diseases were discovered, which were caused by the full-scale invasion: from nervous disorders (increased anxiety – children are afraid of losing one of their parents or are already experiencing this loss) to gastrointestinal disorders (either overeating or malnutrition due to stress) and allergic reactions and respiratory difficulties (asthma, frequent bronchitis). The latter cases increased several times, namely because children frequently have to stay in shelters during air raid alerts. Thus, doctors claim that timely medical examinations can save lives and prevent diseases that may be caused by a full-scale war.
