The modern building of Okhmatdyt children’s hospital damaged by a Russian missile will stay warm during winter despite all odds

"We are a hospital of last hope for many patients. Despite the challenges, we are performing the same number of surgeries daily as before the missile strike, but under much more difficult conditions. If we don't insulate the new medical and diagnostic building and restore the damaged infrastructure, we'll be forced to halt patient treatment in this facility during the winter," said Oleksandr Urin, Acting General Director of Okhmatdyt Hospital, regarding the situation in the hospital's modern building.

Providing medical care to seriously ill children requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists to work closely at each patient's bedside, along with access to specialized equipment. For this reason, dispersing hospital departments across different locations is highly undesirable. To maintain uninterrupted operations, the administration of Ukraine's largest specialized children's hospital is working to consolidate and house its divisions within the intact buildings.

"We lost four operating rooms in Building 11, which were used for ENT procedures, maxillofacial surgeries, and microsurgical interventions. While the ENT department continues to operate in another part of the hospital, nearly all surgical departments and operating theaters have relocated to this modern building," said the acting director general.

Who is doing the work and under what conditions

The primary emergency work to protect the modern medical and diagnostic complex at Okhmatdyt from external influences is being carried out by UNIT DEVELOPMENT LLC.

These works and their technical supervision are funded by the "Tabletochki" Charity Fund.

Following the tender, the winning company offered a bid that was two million lower than expected. The initial expected purchase price was UAH 9,511,036.00 (around $229,580), but after open bidding, it was reduced to UAH 7,500,000 ($181,000).

Priority repairs

"We are currently carrying out emergency measures to preserve our largest building through the winter. The design of the modern building is highly complex, with all communications—such as water, heating, fire protection systems, ventilation, and more—being located externally. Therefore, our top priority is to protect these systems and ensure that we can continue providing medical assistance in this building in the future, as most of our surgical interventions are performed here," explains Urin.

There is no discussion of new windows and doors at the moment. Instead, the openings of doors and windows are being sealed with special materials to protect the building from any external natural damage.

Patients' needs come first

In rooms where windows have been damaged but there is still a need to continue using the space, the window openings are sealed with special materials that can be treated with antiseptics, ensuring proper conditions for medical care.

"The primary task is to ensure adequate conditions for the patient's stay. In the new building, there is no situation of having 10 people in one ward. Typically, it's just two or three children," says the Acting General Director of Okhmatdyt. "Sometimes, the medical staff has to stay in adapted technical spaces. But while the emergency works are ongoing, we are doing our best to provide comfortable conditions for the staff. Our goal is to preserve the hospital's bed capacity."

By the end of November, all priority emergency work is expected to be completed, ensuring that the modern building can continue to provide medical care and successfully navigate the heating season, despite the challenging circumstances.

Who helps replace destroyed equipment

"My acute intoxication department lost the intensive care unit and all the equipment, except for two machines. However, by July 10, we had resumed providing assistance to children," says Urin.

The hospital received two modern machines for acute dialysis from Poland, provided by the Children's Health Center and the foundation supporting it.

"Four more devices were donated to us by the organization that distributes them in Ukraine. Additionally, many other devices, such as ultrasound machines, have been provided by various foreign partners. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has promised us a large volume of equipment. Furthermore, the restoration of the chronic intoxication department and several major improvements to the hospital will be carried out by the German organization GIZ," says the acting director general of "Okhmatdyt."

He emphasizes that benefactors like GIZ will not only supply equipment but also handle repairs in the polyclinic, with the hospital receiving the completed result.

Additionally, GIZ will replace elevators in some buildings, purchase equipment for the food pantry, install solar panels in the polyclinic and several hospital buildings, and repair the neonatal intensive care unit while purchasing new equipment, including for the intensive care unit for extremely premature babies.

The main children's hospital in Ukraine, Okhmatdyt, continues to receive crucial assistance from various charitable organizations.

Acting General Director Oleksandr Urin highlights the ongoing support, emphasizing the hospital's collaboration with numerous partners, including the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Through efforts abroad, the Church has contributed valuable medical devices funded by donations from believers.

"We lost equipment worth UAH 338 million, but little by little, we are restoring it and becoming even better," said Urin.

Despite the ongoing repairs at "Okhmatdyt," doctors continue to provide life-saving care to young patients with unwavering dedication. While major restoration work is still ahead, the hospital's medical team remains committed to ensuring the health and well-being of every child who needs treatment.

Photo: Mykola Tymchenko, Rubryka