NATO Trust Fund improves services to amputees in Ukraine

  • 03 Apr. 2018 -
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  • Last updated: 09 Apr. 2018 17:45

NATO is helping improve medical services for amputees in the Ukrainian armed forces through a new two-year programme at the Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&A) Institute in Kharkiv. Funded by NATO’s medical rehabilitation Trust Fund for Ukraine, the bachelor-level programme will help raise the level of medical services for amputees to international standards. The number of amputees in Ukraine has grown significantly in recent years, due to the conflict in the eastern part of the country.

Launched under the academic umbrella of the Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics (KNURE), the programme will be supervised by the German School of Rehabilitation Sciences. It is being implemented in cooperation with Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy and Ministry and Education and Science. The long-term objective is to establish a bachelor and master level educational programme certified by the International Society of Prosthetists and Orthotists.

Following the Wales Summit, medical rehabilitation was identified as a key area for developing practical cooperation with Ukraine. Since 2015, more than 500 wounded servicemen and 2,000 practitioners in Ukraine have benefited from services provided through NATO’s medical rehabilitation Trust Fund.