Ukrainian non-profit organisation ProtezHub, in partnership with Patients of Ukraine and supported by Enabel, has launched an initiative to improve public access to assistive rehabilitation devices.

The project features an interactive online course for staff at Administrative Service Centres (ASCs), which often serve as the first point of guidance for war veterans and other people beginning their recovery journey.

The initiative aims to equip administrators with a standardised set of skills for arranging and facilitating access to assistive devices. Faster and more effective assistance at ASCs should remove unnecessary barriers for people who need prosthetics, orthoses, crutches, wheelchairs, or other equipment.

"In hospitals, assistive devices are often provided during rehabilitation—usually short-term. Then, if someone needs something longer-term, like a permanent prosthetic, the social protection system takes over. But we know that navigating that system can be confusing or too slow—and that is something we are working to change," shares Paola Pavlenko, national health expert at Enabel.

The training module consists of six 45-minute video lectures and supporting PDF materials. After watching the videos, users are invited to take a test. The course is already available on the ProtezHub knowledge base. While certificates will only be awarded to ASC staff, the module is freely accessible to everyone.

"ASCs are not expected to support someone through every stage of rehabilitation, but administrators can streamline this process and provide guidance on next steps," says veteran Mykhailo Bakaliuk, whose prosthetic journey began with a visit to an ASC. "One of the course's goals is to strengthen administrators' communication skills and improve these interactions."

The training course on rehabilitation assistive devices is part of the “Rehabilitation Pathway: From Regional to Community Level” project within the broader War Trauma Rehabilitation initiative.

The initiative to enhance information services at ASCs is delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and the Social Protection Fund for People with Disabilities.

• 
• 
•