Doctors admit that at the beginning of the great war they were not ready for such a massive number of wounded. Therefore, there is a shortage of doctors and the necessary qualifications.
However, the doctors are adapting to the new conditions: they operate in basements, under the sound of explosions, share experiences, travel around the country, and stand in operating rooms for hours to save another life.
“The military is running out”
Russia is the largest country in the world, with a population of over 140 million. We do not have such a powerful human resource as the enemy. That is why every Ukrainian soldier is of great value to the state.
Experts estimate that as of February 2024, the active phase of the war in Ukraine has already resulted in more than 300,000 wounded, including approximately 50,000 amputees.
Photo: Ukrinform
“Who knows how many Ukrainian soldiers die in the first hours after being wounded? And how many do we lose in the first days, weeks, months? Now this information is closed, but one day this “summary statistics” will be available and it will be too late to change anything. We need to change it now,” – says Serhiy Soshynsky, the initiator of SaveTheLimb national program.
“300th” fighters are eager to get back into service
“Nine out of ten injured soldiers I talked to want to return to service. They ask: “Fix my arm so I can pull the trigger”. And according to our statistics, about 70% of those injured with limb injuries can actually return to service,” – says Soshynsky.
Anatoliy Lavrynenko, a platoon commander with the 17th Separate Tank Brigade, was wounded while performing a mission with his platoon to take an enemy position.
Photo: provided by the foundation
The occupiers began throwing grenades at the Ukrainian defenders. When the battle moved to close range, part of the group had to retreat.
“I had direct contact, 10-15 meters. The bullet hit my shoulder blade and went through the joint. I didn’t drop my assault rifle and ran on,” – the defender recalls.
The fighter was treated in many cities of Ukraine, but his arm could not be restored until he got to the office of an orthopedic traumatologist, an expert on upper limbs of SaveTheLimb national program Vasyl Hayovych.
Now Anatoliy has undergone his first surgeries. Next up is rehabilitation, which he hopes will be completed quickly. Because he wants to return to the ranks and defend Ukraine as soon as possible.
“I want to continue fighting, it is my duty,” – says the fighter.
Fighting with amputations
During the full-scale invasion, in 2022, SaveTheLimb national program of the international charitable foundation “Health of the Ukrainian People” was launched in Ukraine, involving 150 of the best orthopedic doctors from different parts of Ukraine to help the severely wounded.
The slogan of the program is “Do not amputate, save”. The goal is to stop disability by saving limbs for the wounded.
Challenges: Metal to save limbs is as necessary as drones for the Armed Forces
“There have never been such injuries as there are in this war. Now the patients are much heavier. Each injury is a new puzzle to be solved,” – says orthopedic traumatologist Vasyl Haiovych.
Photo: provided by the Foundation
Orthopedic surgeon Vasyl Haiovych explains with a clear example what purchasing the materials needed for a surgery means for a surgeon:
“It’s like a watchmaker being given a clock and not having the tools to fix it. Or a car mechanic has to repair a car, but he doesn’t have the parts, you know. He has to get these parts. They are very expensive”.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Haiovych has conducted 180 highly complex operations.
Disabled nation
“The worst thing is when you examine a young guy with an amputation and realize that it could have been avoided,” – Vasyl admits.
Doctors do not hide the fact that they are concerned about the massive advertising of prosthetic limbs. After all, they believe that amputation is the easiest way to solve the problem, but this way has a number of pitfalls.
Photo: libkos
The state provides more than UAH 2.5 million per person for prosthetic limbs (the amount includes social benefits for disability related to this – ed.)
At the same time, the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU – ed.) provides only a surgical package for domestic trauma, which reaches UAH 8,635 for the treatment and preservation of a leg or arm.
“The wounded can no longer hug their mother or wife, pick up their child, or simply go out to the soccer field with their son and give him a pass, albeit a lame one. They can’t give such moments to their families,” – says Dmytro Sukhodolsky, an injured defender and war veteran.
After 10 years of war, there is still no protocol for treating combat trauma in Ukraine
“In such a medical collapse, decisions are made to amputate a limb more often than to save it. Because of this, we can already talk about the disability of the nation. If we solve the problem of limb preservation, there will be fewer people with disabilities in Ukraine,” – says Soshynsky.
Currently, the philanthropists are developing a Resolution on the Wounded in Ukraine, which will help the authorities make clear and correct decisions to support the victims at all levels, from the hospital to the community.
In addition, next week the Foundation will present the “Roadmap for the Wounded in Ukraine”, a document that will become a national guide for every injured person and their family.
2024: What to prepare for?
Doctors and charity workers believe that the number of wounded will increase. This will be facilitated by the intensity of hostilities and shelling of Ukrainian cities.
“In our country, the government objectively has the will, ability and resources to support the wounded. Veterans and injured soldiers are a great resource for the state if the government and society take care of them,” – says Soshynsky.
The head of the foundation emphasizes the need to create a body in 2024 that will become a single center for coordinating the wounded – the Commissioner for the Wounded (Ombudsman) and the formation of the National Committee for the Wounded.
Strength is in unity. Everything is based on donations
“The biggest problem our program has faced is the lack of public understanding that the wounded need support. Soldiers are shedding blood for Ukraine and are practically left alone with their problems, because people do not understand why they should donate to their treatment.
No one could have planned for such a large number of victims. Only orthopedic devices are partially funded, while implants, endoprostheses, and external fixation devices are not. It is necessary to help the state finance this. If a person makes a regular donation, we can plan a specific number of surgeries. The amount of assistance depends on the number of donors,” – summarizes Soshynsky.
The Foundation is actively raising funds from philanthropists, businesses and foreign donors, but the number of wounded in the queue for funding for limb-saving operations is growing every day. That is why everyone’s help is important.
Currently, there are more than 3000 injured soldiers in the queue for surgeries. You can help provide treatment for the wounded by following the link:
