First Ronald McDonald Charity House in Ukraine to be opened at Kyiv children's hospital
Віктор Ляшко
The first Ronald McDonald Charity House in Ukraine will host an accommodation center for families with severely ill children in Kyiv Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, the press release says.
The center will be a place for a free overnight stay for the patients' parents.
What is the problem?
Children with a serious illness have to be treated for a very long time, sometimes taking years to complete the course. Psychological state and the presence of their relatives are important factors for children's well-being during their stay in the hospital.
Staying in a hospital room constantly depresses young patients, affecting their treatment. Until now, there were only six family rooms in Ukraine at state children's hospitals in Kyiv, Lviv, Sumy, Vinnytsia, and Kharkiv, where children could live with their parents during treatment and outside the ward.
What is the solution?
The Ronald McDonald House Foundation continues to develop a family-centered approach to medical care for children, which involves the family in the treatment process.
Families with seriously ill children will be able to live together in comfortable conditions.
How does it work?
The construction was planned to be completed by the end of 2023, but the plans were changed due to the full-scale war. Construction work will begin in 2024 on the territory of the Children's Hospital.
According to the organization, the estimated area of the building will be 3,000 square meters. It will have 50 separate rooms, which will be able to provide more than 36,000 free overnight stays per year for families.
Photo: Viktor Liashko
Photo: Viktor Liashko
Families will live in bedrooms with private bathrooms and will be able to use kitchens, playrooms, a library, etc.
The building will be designed to meet all people's limited mobility needs.
The initiative will rely on modern energy-efficient engineering solutions and environmentally friendly materials. The program will also provide non-medical services to families, including psychosocial assistance.
As the initiative assures, accommodation and meals will be free of charge. There are more than 380 Ronald McDonald House Charities programs around the world. However, it is the first to be established in Ukraine.
It is vital for children to have their loved ones close by, especially at a time when they are forced to fight serious illnesses, Ukraine's Health Minister Viktor Liashko said.
The McDonald's well-known clown mascot is woven into charity foundations and children's support worldwide. The staff, dressed as this character, often visits children's hospitals, as the company itself raises money for young people with tough calls.
