UKRAINE: ‘People for People’-Medical Care for War Victims

UKRAINE: ‘People for People‘

Rostyslava Martyniuk

At the very beginning of the war in Ukraine, Stanislav Onyschuk — entrepreneur and director of the Clinic of Plastic Surgery and Cosmetology, founded a project called “The First Volunteer Surgical Hospital”. Here, doctors help to treat and operate on people affected by the conflict free of charge.

Before the war

 Stanislav started a cosmetology clinic in 2014. At first, it began as one tiny office where he employed a cosmetologist and dermatologist. A few years later, it had increased to three full-fledged offices. 

“A few months before the start of the full-scale war, we won a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses expand. As a result, I had the opportunity to consult with an expert on the SES grant program (Bonn, Germany). He came to Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukrainian city where Stanislav’s clinic located)  for a month, and I don’t remember ever working so hard in my life (laughs).

The result of intensive work was a  five-year development strategy for the plastic surgery clinic. The defining aspect of the institution was to provide European quality at Ukrainian prices.

At the end of November last year, we opened in a small town near Ivano-Frankivsk (the exact location is not attached for security reasons – ed.). The hospital fully complied with all German standards for the surgical department – ward structure, equipment, etc. From the very beginning, it started with the best quality”

Make monuments decisions

On February 24, the entire Ukraine woke up in smoke after the bombing. Airport in Ivano-Frankivsk was bombed too. Black smoke was visible from every corner of the city. 

“I had mixed feelings – on the one hand, quite strong informational awareness, because I attended special training courses in case of hostilities, where we were taught to put out fires, provide first aid, a procedure during shelling. On the courses, we talked a lot about the possibility of  full-scale Russian invasion.

On the other hand, it was hard to believe that it happened in real life. Another thought that bothered me was the need to protect my family and provide safety to them.

I remember telling my subordinates not to go to work. Later I came to an empty clinic to pick up important documents and seals and decide how to proceed. At the same time, I decided that the clinic should provide help, as we have a surgical base, and an outpatient department and can help people, suffered from the war.

I was very motivated by the idea that after re-profiling the institution, later, when we win this war, I will feel that this was my contribution too. That I did everything I could.

At that moment, I didn’t think about whether it would be difficult.  I didn’t understand how to gather a team of volunteers, or whether there would be enough equipment and finances. This decision was instantaneous, and I never regretted it”

“Human” project

The first thing I did was write a post on social media about the creation of the First Voluntary Surgical Hospital initiative, and that I was seeking people: surgeons, traumatologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, coordinators, drivers, etc.

Assembling a professional team was probably my most important and most difficult task. I was really worried about whether I would succeed.

People are the most significant thing. Even if we had an infinite amount of money or the most expensive equipment in the world, this project would be worth nothing without volunteers.

The desire with which everyone started the implementation showed me how significant and timely the project was.

Both local and internal migrants are working in the surgical hospital – those who also fled the war to safer places from Mariupol, Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Chernihiv (regions in Ukraine with active hostilities, some of them are occupied by Russia — ed.). 

It was an incredible feeling when people called me in the first days and asked to join the project. I asked immediately if they knew that it was voluntary, and we did not have any funding. But they answered that there is a war in Ukraine, so they want to sacrifice their time, skills and experience because that is their civic duty.

I want to say that this project was very ”human” from the beginning – people work for people here, we try to approach each case differently, depending on the situation, we listen to war victims and try to help everyone in any way we can.

As an organized process

Throughout the duration of the project, our services have been used by about 3000 people. 73 of those have needed to be specialized surgical, orthopedic and trauma care for gunshot wounds. The rest of the appeals included treatment of wounds, psychological trauma and exacerbation of chronic diseases from stress. If we can’t help – then we refer to specialists: pediatricians, dentists, etc., as we have agreements with other clinics that will treat for free.

Also, we were able to negotiate with public organizations that supply us with medicines – doctors give them out to those who apply. People sometimes come to the station without documents, funds, or clothes – where else can they get the necessary medicine?

Patients find us through volunteers at the train station in Ivano-Frankivsk – most come here because they are fleeing the war to a safety place. There are many posts on social media with address and short information about clinic. We have a coordinator who regulates all issues and appeals.

 If we talk about the military, as soon as we were created, we sent information about surgical care to military units. Our project was the only one in Ukraine for a long time, so we had a lot of appointments, and calls.

What inspires

 I want to say that this project is just incredible, I am inspired every day and feel how much we are needed, I see the grateful eyes of the people we help, and I see how our volunteers are ”burning” with what they do. I have a lot of reasons to be proud. Furthermore, I remember, in the beginning, we required a vital set of surgical instruments costing  $1,500, but we didn’t have a budget.

I just called the seller, explained the situation, and he told me that he would send the set for free.

“Thank you will be enough” he replied.

It was unbelievable, no one even believed that is true.

‘Doctors Without Borders’ recently contacted us, they heard about our project and wanted to help.

I did not expect that they would help us with everything we asked for – fuel for ambulances, a full supply of medicines, even those that are difficult to obtain in non-war times: hormonal drugs or anaesthetics.

The organization even helped us with renting the premises, because at some point it became overcrowded by patiences. Now we are organizing mobile hospital programs with their help – volunteer doctors come to different cities or shelters where people affected by the war have settled and provide medical care.

Some foreign doctors came to us through ‘Doctors Without Borders, some just saw my ad that we needed people and came as volunteers. We have had experience working with physicians from the Czech Republic, Norway, Slovakia, Japan, and France.

I once asked: how long will they come to us? They answered – until Ukraine require them.

The power of the Spirit

Probably the most memorable story was that of a soldier who miraculously escaped from Mariupol and came to us for treatment. It so happened that he was wounded in the first days of the war, and he was taken to a local hospital two days before the building was occupied by the Russians. He had a severe mine injury, a broken leg, and shrapnel in his eyes.

Ukrainian doctors falsified the patient’s documents, which eventually saved his life. If the Russians found out that he is a soldier, they could torture or kill him. He lay in the occupied hospital for two months without any medical care, aside from being fed once a day with bread and tea. Despite this, he was able to survive.

Then, fortunately, he was taken out of Mariupol (the military came under a special evacuation program, details are not disclosed for security reasons – ed.). The man arrived to us in a very bad condition. And even if we still could save his leg, anyway,  there was a serious problem with eyes. A journalist from the United States, whom I told in an interview about our hospital, helped to contact a clinic that specializes in complex operations to restore vision.

We tried to save the patient’s vision in any way, collected the necessary tests, documents, and data and were ready to look for funds for transportation to an American hospital. However, after 2 weeks awaiting, doctors called back and said that they had analyzed all the information and, unfortunately, could not help, because the injury was too serious.

The same day, I dared to inform the patient’s daughter that we cannot restore his vision, so the man will be disabled.

This story is sad, of course, but it’s also about the strength of spirit, because even in this situation the man did not lose optimism. I saw that he was upset, but bravely accepted everything and even said that he would help Ukraine to win and find a way to be useful to his country. Such stories are both inspiring and awful.

When I asked him what else I could do to help, he replied that he was very grateful for everything he had received during his treatment at the volunteer hospital, because he felt that patients were treated humanely here.

Hearing this, I was so encouraged that I was ready for another three months to sleep 5 hours a day, attract the best doctors in the world and do the impossible, if only to meet more such people and feel that my work is needed.

Recovering peoples

A few months after we started treating war victims — civilians and military, we realized that a team of wide range of doctors was needed, and we increased the number of medical specialities. Orthopaedic traumatologists, physical rehabilitation doctor and a physiotherapist, a psychologist, a therapist — all of those are constantly working in the hospital.

Highly specialized specialists who consult patients are involved: neurologist, psychiatrist, urologist, ENT (ear, nose, throat – ed.), ophthalmologist, cardiologist, neurosurgeon, dentist, ultrasound doctor and others. Municipal and private medical institutions of Ivano-Frankivsk also conduct free diagnostics.

When we received soldiers after Azovstal and after captivity, we reviewed once again the work in the direction of rehabilitation. In addition to medical procedures and psychological sessions, it would be very useful for them to have socialization. Activities that involve participation in society, return of feelings and positive experiences, control of emotions and actions.

And we started doing such activities for them, for example, visiting  theatre every week. All together —  both patients and medical workers. Everyone likes it.

Recreation was also organized for the wounded in the hospital. They specially set aside a relaxation area with a sofa and set up tables outside, brought board games. “When people lie in the wards, their interaction is limited to the meagre hospital communication.

And when there is an opportunity to sit and talk in a cosy corner, go out for coffee and tea in the yard, play chess or mafia, watch films together. These activities open people up and adds positivity to the atmosphere” —  explains Stanislav Onyshchuk.

He says that all doctors without pathos consider it an honour to treat soldiers. Every day, they not only perform their direct work, but are also included in the general complex of patient recovery, become participants in the process.

“I understood that the patiences need a family atmosphere for rehabilitation process. And at the same time, they require contacts with the world. It is not enough to recover a limbs or bones, it is necessary to recover a person”, says Stanislav Onyshchuk.

“Warriors are put on their feet not only by medicine, they recover when they try to return to life in a full sense”

Perhaps, we have already started the “butterfly effect”, adds the director of the First Voluntary Surgical Hospital.

“It is known: if we take care of every detail of our living, every small decision we make, it leads to long-awaited changes. That’s how Ukraine will win in the war! I am firmly confident”

Note

 How to help the First Voluntary Surgical Hospital project?

 Stanislav Onyshchuk: Since the beginning of the war, we have provided free medical care to a considerable number of patients affected by the war. Orthopaedic and traumatological operations – treatment of the consequences of mine-explosions or bullet wounds – make up a large part.

Such surgical interventions involve the use of quite expensive consumables, such as external fixation devices, osteosynthesis(a type of reconstructive surgery aimed at stabilizing and joining the ends of a broken bone after a fracture, an osteotomy, or a non-union from a previous fracture – ed.) systems and other materials.

Even though the doctors of the initiative are volunteers, it is clear that they cannot work forever without being paid for their work. In addition, the smooth functioning of the hospital is directly related to expenses, such as paying for utility services, purchasing certain medicines (not the entire range can be obtained through humanitarian organizations), food products.

Sometimes there are unexpected expenses arise, such as the need for equipment repairs or maintenance.

We are a volunteer initiative which, unfortunately, has no government funding for our services. I firmly sure that from the first days of the active phase of the war, we are doing a good deed, which has a role for both patients and volunteers who provide this help (most of the doctors are forced migrants, that’s how they have jobs now). I also believe that in this way we make our contribution to the struggle for the Independence of Ukraine.

Now, I understand if I want the project to continue working, we require funds (to cover the costs associated with treatment). Unfortunately, if there are no more donations, we will be forced to reduce the amount of medical care, or in the worst case, stop our work altogether.

Donations enable the purchase of bone fusion devices, salary funds, covering other expenses, and allow us to continue our part of the all-Ukrainian struggle, to restore health to those who suffered from the war and need specialized treatment.

 Account numbers to support the project in UAH (UAH):

Recipient Name: GOED ACTION

Recipient code: 39140629

Account in accordance with IBAN standard: UA703366770000026002052562959

Bank name: IVANO-FRANKIVSK BRANCH OF JSC CB “PRIVATBANK”

Details for financial assistance in euros (EUR):

Company Name: “Direct action”(Spryamovana Diya — Ukr.) 

IBAN Code: UA653366770000026000052561662

Name of the bank: JSC CB “PRIVATBANK”, 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE

Bank SWIFT Code: PBANUA2X XXX

Company address: UA 76018 Ivano-Frankivsk 18b Hrushevskoho str

Account in the correspondent bank: 400886700401

SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank: COBADEFF

Correspondent bank: Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

 Account in the correspondent bank: 6231605145

SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank: CHASDEFX

Correspondent bank: J.P.MORGAN AG, FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY

 Contact number of Stanislav Onyshchuk,  Head of First Voluntary Surgical Hospital:  +380681440709 (WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Viber)

[Photo credit Stanislav Onyschyk, few from other sources]

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