Vadym Stolar: Every fifth fighter needs rehabilitation
Vadym Stolar actively supports public organizations that implement military prosthetics programs. In turn, Ukrainian NGOs perform state functions and implement psychological and physical rehabilitation projects.
With the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine, the issue of military rehabilitation became acute. Wounds and mental trauma are the problems that many Ukrainian defenders have already faced, and, unfortunately, as long as the war continues, their number will increase.
Currently, it is difficult to talk about objective data on the number of requests for help with such problems. But these are definitely thousands of people who need physical rehabilitation and/or prosthetics, and tens of thousands of people if we are talking about psychological help. And their return to a peaceful life should be accompanied by a solution to the main question: how to live with it?
Vadym Stolar: Dozens of Ukrainian foundations offer psychological help and rehabilitation for military personnel
Ukrainian legislation provides assistance that veterans should receive. In particular, the issue of free psychological assistance is regulated by Cabinet Resolution No. 1338 In order to organize an effective system of providing such assistance, a sufficient number of specialists and institutions are needed who first of all understand the problem (PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder) and have experience in solving it. With such a large number of victims, state institutions simply cannot cope on their own.
There are positive developments in this direction. Thus, the Ministry of Defense recently approved the Concept for the Development of the Rehabilitation of Wounded Soldiers, which provides their treatment in specialized institutions. It was developed in order to build a network of modern rehabilitation centers and develop rehabilitation structural units in the hospitals of the Ministry of Defense system. But it is clear to everyone that in the conditions of war, a very long time can pass from the concept to a full-fledged implementation.
As of today, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has signed contracts with more than 48 medical facilities where you can get help. Not only that, many community organizations create their own programs: Veteran Hub, Molfa Hub, EnableMe, FFU etc. In particular, the Vadym Stolar Foundation launched a targeted grant program to support NGOs working in this field.
"We allocated 1 million hryvnias to support public organizations of Ukraine that implement programs for the rehabilitation of the civilian population and the military," commented Vadym Stolar. "With the Foundation's team, we are already making progress in this direction thanks to the implemented grant program".
According to the founder of the Foundation, the start of grant programs has aroused great interest among regional associations in the public sector that do not have stable funding. More than 100 applications were received in a short time. This is evidence that such a problem as providing effective assistance to the military in the psychological sphere is completely unsolved. There is a request for support for such programs and organizations, despite the activation of efforts in this direction by government institutions. Today, the grant program is in full swing.
"According to the results of the competition, four winners have already received grants and started purchasing the necessary equipment to implement their ideas. Non-profit organizations registered on the territory of Ukraine were able to participate in the program, and its total grant fund amounted to 1,000,000 hryvnias. This money was distributed among the winners - public organizations that presented projects aimed at the rehabilitation of the Ukrainian military. These are the NGO "UFRA" from Ivano-Frankivsk region, the NGO "Space for Community Development" from Chernivtsi region, the NGO "Rotary Club Kharkiv “New Level”" and the "Economic Development Agency of the City of Pavlograd". Their projects will be implemented on the basis of local medical institutions," Vadym Stolar emphasized.
For 2023, the government has allocated 540 million hryvnias to the state budget for programs, that help people recover psychologically. But as it turns out, this is not enough. After all, if physical rehabilitation is needed by those who were wounded or suffered physical damage, then absolutely everyone needs psychological help. The war affected every Ukrainian.
Why do psychological care programs need scaling up?
A large number of veterans who participated in military operations experience PTSD. In Ukraine, they call the figure 15%, although such statistics are quite conditional, and it is simply impossible to provide accurate data today. At the same time, according to the Minister of Veteran Affairs, Yulia Laputina, after the war, there will be 4-5 million veterans in Ukraine, that is, approximately 10% of the population. That is, up to 750,000 combatants are likely to suffer from post-traumatic syndrome and require professional help.
PTSD is a serious illness that can lead to a number of problems:
● Health problems: PTSD is often associated with other health problems, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and more.
● Relationship problems: PTSD can negatively affect close relationships. People with PTSD may have difficulty communicating with family, friends, and colleagues.
● Problems with work or study: PTSD can interfere with the performance of normal duties, which can lead to layoffs or the inability to continue.
● Suicidal thoughts and attempts: PTSD significantly increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
● Further problems with alcohol and drugs: Many people with PTSD turn to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to cope with their symptoms.
The effects of PTSD can be long-term and require professional psychotherapy, including behavioral therapy, medication, and other approaches. Society and the state should also provide support to veterans and other victims.
Already today, every fifth wounded fighter needs high-quality rehabilitation - Vadym Stolar
Another type of rehabilitation is direct physical recovery and prosthetics.
On April 1, 2022, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signed the Law of Ukraine No. 2168-IX On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Provision of Aids in the Rehabilitation of Persons Victims of the Russian Federation's Military Aggression Against Ukraine.
The key goal of these changes is to optimize and improve the efficiency of assistance and prosthetics in the context of rehabilitation.
And although measures to install modern prostheses for Ukrainian military personnel are taking place with increased intensity, most of the veterans cannot get them.
First of all, bureaucratic obstacles have not disappeared. For example: the situation in March 2023 - about 200 soldiers were literally "stuck" in the center "Halychyna" because they could not get prostheses. The process was delayed due to the impossibility of obtaining relevant certificates from their military units. Such bureaucratic complications and cases suggest that systemic change takes time to satisfy the demand.
For reference. What documents are required for free prosthetics for military personnel from the state?
1. The decision of the Military Medical Commission or the conclusion of the Medical Advisory Commission (for participants in hostilities, victims who have not been diagnosed with disability);
2. Certificate of the internal affairs body on bringing to criminal responsibility, absence (presence) of a criminal record
3. The expert's opinion based on the results of the forensic medical examination
4. A document confirming information about the registered (declared) place of residence (stay) of a person directly in the districts and during the period of military (combat) operations
5. Extract from the order of the commander of the military unit (head of the territorial unit) or a certificate about the circumstances of the injury (wounds, contusions, mutilations).
Vadym Stolar: The public sector is more flexible and proactive in matters of assistance
"In this context, the public sector is a more effective means of meeting the need for physical rehabilitation. After all, it is capable of greater flexibility and has more "room for maneuver", - believes Vadym Stolar.
According to Vadym Stolar, as of today, every fifth Ukrainian serviceman needs rehabilitation. This is a large percentage, which causes a significant burden on state institutions.
Non-governmental organizations and foundations perform an extremely important function in solving these systemic tasks. And now we are not talking about large organizations with multi-million dollar budgets. It is about a common intention, desire and action.
For example: the "Future for Ukraine" Foundation joined the Operation Renew Prosthetics program. With the support of the international clinic for prosthetics MCOP and the Ministry of Health of Malta, on the basis of the clinic Steward Health Care Malta, the Ukrainian military received decent help..
The goal for 2023 is to provide steel limbs to 24 more fighters. And there are many such cases.
Ukrainian volunteers are no less heroic than Ukrainian soldiers. By uniting, protecting and supporting each other, Ukrainians are able to overcome any obstacles.
Remember that victory and support depend on everyone. And you can personally join the programs of Ukrainian foundations:
● Future for Ukraine – prosthetics for the Ukrainian military in 2023
● CF "Medical Innovations" – prostheses for the Unbreakable
● CF "Citizen" – assistance to military amputees in state-of-the-art prosthetics
● CF "Dopomogator" – Regenerate Ukrainians – bionic Ukrainian prostheses from Allbionics
● Protez Foundation – prostheses for the Ukrainian military
● CF "Vadym Stolar" – assistance to military personnel and implementation of grant programs for rehabilitation
«Hotline» on limb prosthetics of the Ministry of Social Policy: 050-177-68-39
