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Over the past year, the war in Ukraine has had a devastating effect on persons with disabilities and older people. These population groups can be particularly vulnerable during conflicts and humanitarian crises, as they risk being neglected or deprived of essential services, including their assistive products. People with disabilities and injuries may rely on assistive technology (AT) to maintain their independence and dignity and to access food, sanitation and medical assistance.           

To help Ukraine meet the demand for AT, WHO in collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health is implementing a project to provide internally displaced persons in the country with necessary products. This is done through the procurement and distribution of specialized AT10 kits, each containing 10 types of products identified as most needed by Ukrainians in emergencies. The kits include mobility aids, such as crutches, wheelchairs with pressure relief cushions, walking sticks and walking frames, and self-care products, such as catheter kits, absorbent continence products, and toilet and shower chairs.

When the war broke out, Ruslana and her family decided not to go down into the shelter, which was in the basement of a high-rise building. Instead, they hid in the bathroom, where the children sometimes slept. The reason for this decision was the disability of Klym, Ruslana's 14-year-old son. Due to cerebral palsy and spastic dysplasia, he cannot walk and uses a wheelchair. Multiple flights of stairs made the shelter inaccessible for the teenager.

As part of the AT10 project, Klym received a modern height-adjustable bathroom chair and a brand new wheelchair. His previous wheelchair was very old, didn't fit well anymore, and needed a lot of maintenance. “Honestly, we were just shocked. It's absolutely unreal,” Ruslana says about Klym's new wheelchair. “You can't imagine how much easier it would have been for the child to move around if he had such an opportunity from the very beginning.”

It has always been important for the family that Klym experiences independence, especially when Ruslana attends to her online job. AT has made it possible for them to achieve this goal. “I feel calm knowing that he is not lying in bed the whole time,” says Ruslana. The first time Klym used a wheelchair in childhood, it was a life-changing experience. “He could ride about, turn his chair at any angle. He even managed to open a bedside table to get his toys. Previously, he could only open it after our physical education classes, but now he gets everything himself while I'm working. I can say that he began to live a much fuller life.”

Lyudmila is a 70-year-old retired math teacher from Chernihiv. Despite having only one functional hand, she has adapted to household chores and keeps a positive outlook and a great sense of humour. “I've learnt to do a lot with one hand,” she says with confidence and a light smile. “I can do laundry, wash dishes, and even prepare meals.”

But before receiving a wheelchair from her local hospital as part of the AT10 project, Lyudmila still struggled to move around without the support of a family member. “I'd just stay at home or sit on a bench outside my building, but now I can go to the city and socialize with others,” she says. She is excited for the weather to improve, so she could take the wheelchair to her place in the countryside, which is more accessible than her city apartment. Lyudmila also mentions the benefit of her new shower chair, which is safer and more convenient than the wooden kitchen chair she previously used.

AT has made a significant impact on the teacher’s quality of life, enabling her to live with more independence and comfort. “Of course, my family are so happy that life has become a bit easier for me,” she says.

Training in Assistive Products (TAP)