The Ukrainian Red Cross, in partnership with international Red Cross movement partners and with the support of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, has started work on restoring the children’s ward of the Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Kyiv. This comes as part of a project aimed at restoring healthcare facilities damaged by the war. The building was severely damaged on July 8, 2024, during a large-scale missile attack on Kyiv and the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. The total project budget is 42 million UAH.
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The Importance of Restoring Medical Facilities
The General Director of the Ukrainian Red Cross, Maxym Dotsenko, emphasized the importance of restoring medical institutions damaged by the war:
“Restoring healthcare facilities in Ukraine that have been affected by the war is a priority for our organization, especially when it comes to children’s healthcare facilities. The damage to the Children’s Cardiology Center has made it impossible to provide care for thousands of young patients. Therefore, the Ukrainian Red Cross is doing everything possible to ensure the quickest possible restoration of the center, where children’s lives are saved every day.”
Support from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Viktor Lyashko, the Minister of Health of Ukraine, also underscored the significance of restoring the Children’s Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Center, one of the leading medical institutions in the country:
“The Children’s Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Center is one of the leading medical facilities in Ukraine, where unique surgeries are performed to save the lives of the youngest patients with the most complex heart diseases. After the tragic missile attack by the Russians, which caused severe damage, we now face the important task of restoring the center’s capabilities, ensuring doctors have the necessary conditions for providing care, and giving children access to the most modern medical services. The restoration of the hospital is not just about rebuilding the building, but also about restoring hope for many families whose children require urgent treatment.”
Restoration Priorities
Ilya Yemets, the Director of the Children’s Cardiology Center, emphasized that the restoration of the center’s work is of critical importance:
“Our priority is to restore operations on newborns and infants’ hearts in the renovated building by the summer of 2025. Every day is crucial for those who need our help, and we are grateful to all who support us during this challenging time. We are hopeful for the speedy recovery of our work.”
Planned Restoration Work
To ensure the safe and reliable operation of the facility, the following restoration work is planned:
- Installation of new partition structures within the hospital.
- Restoration of all damaged windows and doors.
- Repair of damaged electrical, water supply, and sewage systems.
- Repair of walls and restoration of interior finishes in affected areas.
- Replacement of damaged flooring.
- Installation of new showers.
- Restoration of damaged facade elements.
- Replacement of damaged roof sections.
Ongoing Support by the Ukrainian Red Cross
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian Red Cross has been actively involved in the restoration of medical facilities across the country. To date, 10,000 square meters of medical and rehabilitation institutions have been repaired. Among the restored facilities are the Unbroken Rehabilitation Center in Lviv, the State Rehabilitation Center “All-Ukrainian Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities” in Lyutizh, Kyiv region, and the installation of solar panels at the Vyshnevska City Hospital in Kyiv region. This hospital serves over 120,000 people, including thousands of internally displaced persons, and will now be able to function even during emergency power outages thanks to the new equipment.
The restoration of the Children’s Cardiology Center in Kyiv is an essential part of the Ukrainian Red Cross’s efforts to restore healthcare institutions across the country. These actions not only ensure the proper conditions for providing medical care to children but also offer hope to thousands of families whose children need urgent medical treatment.
