Rehabilitation of a Child, Victim of Conflict in Ukraine

Between 31 July and 20 August 2016, ITF has successfully enabled the second rehabilitation phase for an 11-year-old girl from Mariupol (Ukraine), who was severely injured and lost her leg (bellow knee amputation) during armed conflict in Ukraine. Physical rehabilitation was carried out at the University Rehabilitation Institute in Slovenia (URI - Soča) through ITF. The first rehabilitation phase was provided in 2015, when the first prosthesis was fitted. Since the girl is growing there was an urgent need for a new prosthesis.

Upon arrival to Slovenia, the girl showed her ability to walk independently with a prosthesis without any issues; during the therapies she was able to climb the wall alone, ride a bicycle and even roller skate. She also attended occupational therapy, where her talent for drawing was discovered, among others, while in the afternoon she participated in different fun competitions with other children.

With the girl growing up and becoming more independent and active, it was necessary to replace the existing prosthesis with a more flexible foot, and at the same time provide additional water proof prosthesis. This underscores the crucial importantance of a sustainable approach to the victims' rehabilitation. During her stay the girl was accompanied by her father and with our partners we have enabled several sight-seeing visits around Slovenia.

The rehabilitation was made possible with the unselfish support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Trgotur d.o.o., Krka d.d. Novo mesto, POS izobraževanje in svetovanje d.o.o., ITF employees, Lumar Ig d.o.o., Ireland and the unspent funds from the first phase (Vitamed d.o.o. and Krka d.d. Novo Mesto).