In the aftermath of last year’s devastating battle in Irpin, a city just outside of Kyiv, signs of recovery are emerging. The conflict saw between 200 to 300 lives lost due to Russian artillery fire, and over 10,000 residents were displaced. But as the city cleans up the traces of war and reconstructs its infrastructure, there are glimmers of hope.
The Luxembourg and Belgian Red Cross have collaboratively undertaken the renovation of three hospitals that bore the brunt of the combat. Notably, one of these hospitals now serves as a recovery centre for heart surgery patients. This establishment had previously been appropriated by Russian forces as a headquarters during the siege of Irpin. The takeover had such dire consequences that soldiers even instigated fires within the building.
Dr. Vitali Demanchuk, recalling the harrowing times, had to transfer his patients to Kyiv last February. It is noteworthy that since the onset of the Russian invasion, there’s been a marked increase in heart attack incidents.
Myriam Jacoby, representing the Luxembourg Red Cross, underscored the longstanding relationship between Luxembourg and Ukraine, tracing its origins to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Currently, the rejuvenated hospital in Irpin is in full swing, with 91 patients convalescing post-surgery. With 115 available beds, the hospital annually provides medical care to approximately 2,500 patients.
On another positive note, aid from Luxembourg and Belgium played a pivotal role in restoring a children’s hospital in Boyarka, which now boasts 325 beds. Hospital director, Katrina Savinova, remarked on the significant uptick in patients, stating, “We now treat three times our usual patient load. Many journey from various parts of Ukraine to seek treatment in the Kyiv region.” She also highlighted the challenges faced by expectant mothers traveling from conflict zones, noting the surge in premature births induced by stress and arduous travel.
However, the journey to full recovery is still ongoing. Another children’s hospital, primarily focusing on lung diseases, is currently under renovation and in dire need of X-ray scanners. The sheer magnitude of the war’s impact on Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure is staggering. Official estimates reveal that around 540 hospitals across the nation have either been decimated or impaired since the war’s commencement.
