Wellbeing - Wegner and Klitschko pay visit to wounded soldiers.
The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (CDU), and the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, paid a visit to a center for orthopedic technology in the city where aspiring prosthetists and amputees from Ukraine were receiving care. In April, several soldiers suffering from severe injuries arrived in Berlin as part of a collaboration between the two cities. These soldiers demonstrated their new prosthetic limbs, showing off their progress as they slowly learned to walk again. One man who had lost both legs in the war wore a T-shirt emblazoned with "Fight for Life."
Klitschko noted the high demand for prosthetics due to the many casualties. However, Ukraine is facing a shortage of skilled orthopedic technicians to provide proper care for all war victims. "We need expertise, we need specialists, and we need technology," Klitschko expressed his gratitude for the partnership with Berlin, declaring "together we are more powerful than alone." Wegner highlighted this exemplification of city partnership.
A thrilling training initiative will see Ukrainian apprentices learn how to create custom-made prosthetics for injured soldiers. This extensive training at six Berlin-based orthopedic technology companies will span several months. While the apprentices are being trained, around 50 injured soldiers from Ukraine will receive prostheses in Berlin. Ultimately, the ambition is to establish a prosthetics center in Kiev this fall, which would improve the care of injured soldiers and civilians on a long-term, sustainable basis.
"It's not an easy task, but it's very interesting," stated one of the apprentices, Anastasiia. At age 22 and a trained physiotherapist, Anastasiia has been in Berlin for two months, mastering the whole craft, from the initial consultation with the patients to prosthesis production and aftercare. Like the other two apprentices, who are being mentored by Berlin company Seeger's specialists, Anastasiia had no previous knowledge or experience in prosthetics. Nevertheless, she and the other apprentices, Volodymyr included, are eager to help and learn this skill.
It is estimated that there are roughly 30,000-50,000 amputation victims in Ukraine. [/
Read also:
- The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine have resulted in a substantial number of casualties, with estimates suggesting there are between 30,000 to 50,000 amputation victims.
- Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kiev, expressed his concern about Ukraine's shortage of skilled orthopedic technicians, necessary due to the high demand for prosthetics caused by the wars.
- Amidst the tensions between Ukraine and Russia, Berlin and Kiev have formed a partnership to address the issue, with Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) of Berlin expressing gratitude for the collaboration.
- The partnership between Berlin and Kiev includes a training initiative where Ukrainian apprentices learn how to create custom-made prosthetics for injured soldiers, a skill they are eager to acquire to help their countrymen.
- While the war in Ukraine continues, efforts to provide proper care for victims remain vital, with cities like Berlin and Kiev working together to establish a prosthetics center in Kiev this fall, aimed at improving the healthcare of injured soldiers and civilians in the long term.
