Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital

On Apr. 2, 2015, Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttya published an interview with Gennadiy Druzenko, PFVMH Chairman of the Board of Trustees, conducted for the online publication by PFVMH volunteer Olena Maksymenko. Provided below is the introduction to the interview translated into English. The entire story in Ukrainian is also available on our site.

The Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital is a unique phenomenon. It is not similar to any of volunteer or state medical organizations, neither in its philosophy nor in its disposition.

Paramedic is one more word from the new era lexicon, which literally means near medicine. The hospital recruits as volunteers both professional medics and people without relevant education. However, with each of them it signs an agreement on month-long rotation, and for those employed, it arranges for an official business trip.

Before getting to the front, all of them, even professional doctors, undergo training. This is because work of a civilian medic in a warm sterile room, with a well-meshed team of assistants, differs essentially from the tasks of a military medic. Besides the provision of first aid, the volunteers are trained in safety rules in the case of shelling by MLRS, mortars, and tanks. They try falling out from vehicles on alarm, hitting the ground, and transporting a casualty lying down when there is a risk of fire.

PFVMH Board of Trustees Chairman Gennadiy Druzenko, one of the project’s initiators, tells about the history of his baby.

Read the entire story in Ukrainian…