Chernihiv region was one of the first to take the blow from the russian offensive. During the fighting around Chernihiv, the village of Kyiinka was one of those that were battered by the enemy, because it was actually on the front line, and suffered greatly from shelling. Many hits were in the courtyard of civilians. Many have lost their homes.

The only hospital in the village has been significantly damaged and is currently under renovation. The local dispensary in Kyiv has already been repaired after the hands of the occupier but has not yet begun its work.

“The locals have not yet recovered from the horror they experienced in the occupation. People talk about how they sat in cold basements during shelling. When a woman at the registry asked the old lady what illnesses she had, she heard an answer that makes one go into a cold sweat: oncology, diabetes, stroke. Unfortunately, there were many such answers. Chronic illnesses, stress, panic attacks, and the death of loved ones … In the spring, during the shelling of the village, doctors treated patients and wounded in the basement of the destroyed school. Now it is very important for these people to feel that they are not forgotten and that they are taken care of. The elderly are especially lacking psychological support,” says Antonina Zakharova, co-founder of the Mobile Doctors project.

As part of the project, doctors arrive in the settlements affected by the russian army in a special car. A huge truck was converted into a mobile laboratory, an ultrasound room, and a pharmacy.

To undergo an examination, a person simply needs to go to the location of the truck and make an appointment with a doctor. A medical record is drawn up for each patient. The doctor conducts an initial examination and refers the person for testing. Within a few hours, the test results are ready, and the therapist can prescribe the necessary medications, which are given to the patient free of charge on the spot. Therapists, gastroenterologists, and a surgeon worked on the spot this time.

“Access to medical examinations and medicines is a basic need and right of every human being. Therefore, the task of the Mobile Doctors project consists of two important aspects: to provide access to treatment where it is now needed, and also to draw the attention of the general community to this problem. Thus, it is possible to bring together more people, organizations and businesses to solve it,” says Yevgeniya Piddubna, director of corporate communications at Farmak.

During the visit, more than 100 residents of the village of Kyyinki were able to undergo diagnostics, get a doctor’s consultation and receive free medicines. People were treated both in a special truck and in a local outpatient clinic equipped by the organizers, where they brought their furniture and medical equipment.

How do mobile doctors work?

Doctors arrive in settlements that have suffered at the hands of the occupiers in a special car. A huge truck was converted into a mobile laboratory, an ultrasound room, and a pharmacy.

“We are an association of doctors and nurses who will treat and are now treating people in the de-occupied territories. These are the Kyiv region, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Lugansk, etc. We want to be the first to come and meet with these people, because it’s not enough to win, it’s important that we survive this war in greater numbers,” says Olexandr Bukhtiyar, a member of the Mobile Doctors Supervisory Board.

The first village that mobile doctors visited was the village of Moshchun in the Kyiv region, which was one of the most affected by the russian military. Here, in the local cultural club, residents were able to take tests, examine internal organs and, after consultation, receive medicines.

“It is important to understand that the number and geography of trips will also depend on the engagement of Ukrainian businesses in the life of the affected communities in which they are represented. Mobile Doctors will apply for fundraising to large national companies and international foundations that support medicine in Ukraine in order to provide medical care to as many Ukrainians as possible,” Olexandr Bukhtiyar adds.

How can one get tested?

To be examined in a mobile laboratory, a person simply walks up to a converted truck and makes an appointment with a doctor. A medical record is drawn up for each patient. The doctor conducts the initial communication and directs the person to take tests. Within a few hours, the test results are ready and the therapist can prescribe certain medications, which are immediately given to the patient free of charge on the spot.

“Depending on the society where we will go and understand the needs of the people who have remained in this territory, we form our own number of personnel. We have a permanent staff – the chief physician of the project, who oversees the entire medical part. There is a head nurse who supervises all the nurses to make sure everything is done according to medical standards. There is a chief ultrasound specialist who makes diagnostics of internal organs in this truck. And there is a chief laboratory assistant. This is the person in charge of all the equipment in order to check blood tests, urine tests, etc. on the spot,” comments Olexandr Bukhtiyar.

What medicines can you get?

Ukrainians receive medicine free of charge after consulting a doctor. The medicines for the project at this stage are provided by the pharmaceutical company Farmak. According to Yevgeniya Piddubna, Director of Corporate Communications, the company was invited to join the Mobile Doctors project, as it can provide a full portfolio in all therapeutic areas.

“We immediately agreed to support this very important and socially significant project. Access to medical services and medicines is one of the basic human needs. As the only pharmacy in Moshchun is empty and broken, we provided the organizers with anti-cold drugs and cough medicines, vitamin complexes, sedatives, as well as prescription drugs used in the treatment of more serious diseases. If necessary, we will add other drugs and continue to support this project,” Yevgeniya comments.

Some Ukrainian celebrities, who are diabetes patients themselves or have family members with diabetes, have joined the project, namely People’s Artist of Ukraine Nazar Zadniprovskyi, the world-famous Ukrainian violinist Vasyl Popadiuk, singer Vlad Sytnik, psychologist Nataliia Kholodenko and People’s Artist of Ukraine Bohdan Beniuk.

“I was in my twenties when I found out that I had type 1 diabetes. I was treated in the intensive care unit for three days and in the endocrinology unit for two weeks. Diabetes is insidious since it mimics other diseases and is quite difficult to be detected before it is too late. However, people have intuition with respect to their organisms, therefore, if you feel the symptoms indicating high blood sugar level, don’t waste your time and get tested,” said the People’s Artist of Ukraine Nazar Zadniprovskyi, sharing his history of living with diabetes.

“Everyone had diabetes in my father’s family. I know how hard it is to live with this disease, for I have seen it decrease the quality of lives of my loved ones. Now I am teaching healthy lifestyle to my children and constantly trying to prevent myself from getting diabetes. I want every person in the country to understand how this disease occurs and how important it is to diagnose it in time,” says psychologist Nataliia Kholodenko.

The social project “100th Anniversary of Insulin Discovery” is aimed at raising the Ukrainians’ awareness with respect to diabetes mellitus, as well as the symptoms and prevention thereof, as well as encouraging people to take a responsible approach to their health and check their blood sugar level on a regular basis.

Manufacturing quality medicinal products is not the only way used by Farmak to combat diabetes mellitus. We are taking measures aimed at informing the population about the disease-related risks. We are forming the culture of responsible attitude towards health and constant diagnostics. The first insulins in Farmak’s product portfolio became available 18 years ago. The foreign partner’s technology transfer agreement signed between Farmak and an American insulin producer in 2001 enabled increasing the quality level of insulins produced in Ukraine and making the treatment available to Ukrainian patients,” says Yevhenia Piddubna, Director of Corporate Communications at Farmak.

The exposition “100th Anniversary of Insulin Discovery” will be presented in the hall of the Teatralna metro station until October 29. It may be visited by any inhabitant of the capital and other cities, both physically and online.

*Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. The lack of it causes the development of diabetes mellitus.