The Pediatric Rehabilitation Training Program for Ukrainian clinicians was launched in the UK

On May 31st, the pediatric rehabilitation training four-week program for eight clinicians from Ukraine commenced in the United Kingdom, marking a significant step towards enhancing pediatric rehabilitation services in Ukraine. Ukrainian rehabilitation professionals will receive specialist training across six English hospital trusts, which work together as the Children's Hospital Alliance, learning from NHS teams in intensive care, trauma, neurorehabilitation and sleep.

This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Ukraine and the World Bank, under the Health Enhancement and Lifesaving (HEAL) project, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Ukraine. The NHS Trusts are generously providing the training activities on a pro bono basis.

This program directly supports the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030, where the MoH of Ukraine is committed to prioritizing three flagship projects from 2025 to 2026, and the development of pediatric rehabilitation, especially in the context of the russian war, is one of the goals. Ukraine is dedicated to establishing a family-centered, timely, and coordinated pediatric rehabilitation system that integrates seamlessly with social services and inclusive education. 

In line with the rehabilitation in healthcare agenda and particularly within the framework for developing pediatric rehabilitation, the Ministry is prioritizing the capacity building of rehabilitation professionals specializing in pediatric care.

This training program represents a determined focus on human capital development and capacity building for multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams (MDRTs) throughout Ukraine, starting with leading and critical children's healthcare facilities. The eight selected Ukrainian clinicians, representing four strong Ukrainian hospitals, are poised to become trainers themselves, sharing their expertise with MDRTs nationwide upon their return, thereby amplifying the impact of this initiative.

Participating Ukrainian Facilities:

• Okhmatdyt National Children's Specialized Hospital, Kyiv
• St. Zinaida Children's Hospital, Sumy
• St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital of First Medical Lviv Union, Lviv
• Khmelnytskyi City Children's Hospital, Khmelnytskyi
• These facilities, each with its unique history and unwavering commitment to delivering the best care, even in the face of war, are at the forefront of advancing pediatric rehabilitation in Ukraine. This program will empower them to further enhance their services and improve the lives of Ukrainian children affected by the russian war.