As we have already mentioned, this year the Charitable Organization "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya" participated in the organization and discussions of the Re:Open Zakarpattia Forum of ideas and solutions, which was organized for the third time by the NGO "Institute for Central European Strategy" with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

One of the important topics during the event was the issue of development the military rehabilitation system and the role of Zakarpattia in this process as a historical health resort of Europe. The discussion was moderated by the director of the Committee Nataliya Kabatsiy. The expert discussion was joined by the Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Kotyk, professor of Uzhhorod National University Ivan Myronyuk, doctor of physical rehabilitation medicine Kateryna Zinovyeva and clinical psychologist from France Thierry Liscia.

– The war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine has changed the life of our country and the world as a whole. The western regions, which suffered the least from the hostilities, are now the rear force of the country’s vital activity and are focused on the challenges that the war produces on a daily basis. After nine months of painstaking work, the priorities of medium-term planning for solving social and humanitarian problems and post-war reconstruction of the country became obvious. That is why the discussion panels of this year’s forum are a reflection of the war and its consequences, and ours, in particular, will try to constructively analyze what needs to be done or what is already being done to build a system of rehabilitation – both mental and physical for all victims of hostilities and, first of all, for the military, – Nataliya Kabatsiy emphasized.

It is important to note that the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya is one of the parties to the signing of a partnership agreement between Uzhhorod National University and the Association "Parasolka" (Switzerland), which provides for the creation of new educational conditions at the SHEI "UzhNU" for the training of specialists who will provide high-quality educational, medical, social and rehabilitation services to people with disabilities. The document signed in 2019 is already working, and the university is preparing qualified teams that will definitely be in demand in society in the conditions of war and its consequences. By the way, Thierry Liscia’s visit to Zakarpattia is connected, among other things, with the aim of integrating the best medical practices into the educational process, which will be useful for future specialists.

– We cannot solve any issues at the forum, especially systemic issues, it all depends on many factors. But we consciously outline the problems, thanks to foreign partners we see what we need to work on. I am pleased that we are able to work step by step in the region to build a system of providing high-quality rehabilitation services, – Nataliya Kabatsiy summed up.

Details of the discussion are available in the recording of the Re:Open Zakarpattia Forum broadcast

And about the implementation of the provisions of the mentioned Agreement read here, here, here, also here, here and here.

Let’s keep working!