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Prosthesis center in Kyiv: Hope for amputated soldiers is growing!
On August 26, 2024, Vitaliy Klitschko opened the prosthesis center in Kyiv to improve the care of amputation-injured patients.
Prosthesis center in Kyiv: Hope for amputated soldiers is growing!
On August 26, 2024, the “Berlin-Kyiv Prosthesis Center – Human Titans” was ceremoniously opened in a hospital in Kyiv. This facility aims to significantly improve the treatment of soldiers and civilians injured by amputations in Ukraine. At the opening, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko emphasized the enormous need for the center, as around 21,000 amputations are carried out in Ukraine every year. The project is run by the Berlin NGO Life Bridge Ukraine also supports and receives funding as part of the city partnership between Berlin and Kyiv.
The center's initial equipment and machinery were financed entirely through donations. A significant fundraising event was a fundraising dinner organized by Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, and Vitaliy Klitschko on June 12, 2024. In addition, Berlin master orthopedic companies trained several trainees from Kyiv over a period of one year, who received intensive training in Berlin workshops.
Cooperation agreement
On September 14, 2023, Kai Wegner and Vitaliy Klitschko signed an agreement formalizing the partnership between the two cities. This collaboration aims to promote knowledge transfer in the field of prosthesis care and rehabilitation. Over the last two years, a dedicated team has prepared both the planning and implementation of the center, creating design sketches to meet specific site requirements.
The Prosthesis Center has already produced 42 custom-made prostheses for 40 soldiers injured by amputations. This happened thanks to the dedicated work of the trainees who were qualified by the Berliner Werkstätten. In addition to the technical equipment, the center has also enabled the rehabilitation of a total of 53 seriously injured soldiers from Ukraine.
Expanded support offers
In addition to prosthetic care Malteser International Provided support to amputation injured patients in a hospital in Lviv. Comprehensive treatments are offered there, including both physiotherapy and psychotherapy. The aim is to give patients an optimal new start with prostheses.
The reasons for the increase in amputations in Ukraine are diverse, ranging from military conflicts to accidents and inadequate medical care. The dramatic increase in amputations since the summer of 2022 illustrates the urgency of such offers of help. Therefore, a neurosurgery department was founded in Kiev Children's Hospital No. 1 to provide specialized care for seriously injured children.
Overall, the “Berlin-Kyiv Prosthesis Center” shows a strong example of international cooperation and solidarity. It is an important step towards improving the quality of life of many people who suffer from the consequences of amputation.