During a week a paediatric physiotherapist from Switzerland, Claudia Leu, a partner of the CAMZ, has been working in Zakarpattia. Christian Hodel, a specialist in setting up rehabilitation equipment, helped clients with her.

This is not the first visit of foreign specialists to Ukraine and not the first help to the community of the region. Thus, with the support of CAMZ, the Transcarpathian Regional Children's Sanatorium «Malyatko» received humanitarian aid twice: in 2020 - to open a physical rehabilitation department and this year -  for an additional equipment. At present, our Swiss partners put into operation the received equipment and carried out instructions on its use. At the same time, the specialists consulted «Malyatko’s» clients on the specifics of the operation of the equipment, its individual adjustment to the child's needs.

In turn, Claudia Leu showed parents of children with disabilities effective methods of physiotherapy, shared with her Transcarpathian colleagues, and demonstrated in practice the methods - tested abroad - of work with clients.

The Swiss partners spent the second half of the week in the Vilshansky orphanage: Christian Hodel checked the existing wheelchairs and adjusted several of them to the individual needs of children. Members of CAMZ Lesya Levko and Nataliya Kabatsiy helped to sort the wheelchairs, disassemble the imported material and re-equip the physiotherapy room.

Claudia Leu focused her working time on cooperation with physiotherapist Anatoliy Makhnenko, who has been working at the institution since July 2021. With the support of Claudia, who is practicing for the third time in the Vilshansky Orphanage, the Ukrainian colleague was able to improve his professional skills, get recommendations and answers to professional questions. Also, for Anatoly Makhnenko, a monthly work plan and recommendations on the use of wheelchairs and aids were jointly developed.

Such important meetings became possible thanks to the established contacts and cooperation of the Parasolka Association (Switzerland), the activities of the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia, in particular, within the framework of the cooperation agreement with the «Malyatko» sanatorium. Considering that the experience exchange is one of the factors in the progressive development of the provision of services to persons with disabilities, the practice of visits of foreign specialists to Zakarpattia will be continued. It is planned that Claudia Leu and Christian Hodel, together with two other rehabilitation technicians, will arrive in Vilshany in early September this year.

In June, with the participation of Swiss partners at the Uzhhorod National University, professional discussions were held on new approaches to introductory and educational practice for students who master the areas of special education, physical and occupational therapy.