Resilience Amidst Destruction: The Rebirth of Kharkiv Maternity Hospital

During the two years of full-scale war in Ukraine, over 1,700 medical facilities have been damaged, with 195 completely destroyed. 

This exacerbates the already dire situation regarding access to healthcare in a country enduring repeated attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets. The war impedes access to both routine and emergency health services, with damaged and destroyed medical facilities, and the remaining facilities becoming overburdened, resulting in severe public health consequences. 

One such incident occurred on 1 March 2022, when an air strike affected the Kharkiv Maternity Hospital No. 1. The blast wave severely damaged the roof, the building's facade, and more than 250 windows and doors, with the overall cost of damage amounting to thousands of US dollars. 

"The damage made it impossible for us to continue our work. We had to temporarily close the maternity hospital until the building was repaired. However, the scope of work was beyond what we could manage on our own or with the city budget," says Yevheniy Blahoveshchenskiy, Head of Maternity Hospital No. 1.  

"We had long been planning and negotiating these repairs in close contact with the city council. Eventually, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joined us in repairing our premises," recalls Yevheniy.  

Before the war, Kharkiv Maternity Hospital No. 1 was renowned in the region for the quality and quantity of services provided, catering not only to Kharkiv residents but also to women from across the region.  The hospital typically handles 2,000 baby deliveries and 1,500 operative interventions yearly and maintains an occupancy of 110 beds in its gynecological and maternity departments. 

IOM specialists commenced comprehensive repairs at the maternity hospital in late August 2023. In under six months, the hospital was ready to resume operations. 

"The roof was repaired, approximately 150 windows were replaced, along with 100 interior doors. The laboratory and kitchen were also restored,” explains Mykyta Kalchenko, Senior Shelter Assistant, IOM Ukraine. 

Located in eastern Ukraine, Kharkiv is situated perilously close to active frontlines. Daily air strikes and missile attacks have left visible scars across the city. As part of the rehabilitation efforts, work was undertaken in the clinic’s shelter area, including the installation of a new ventilation system, showers, and toilets. With a fully restored surgery room and all utilities operational, doctors can continue working even during active shelling. 

The air strike not only damaged the premises but also the medical facilities of the hospital. IOM provided further support by furnishing the facility with necessary equipment to enhance its capacity for pregnancy care. 

"We were able to provide a high-quality ultrasound machine and a surgical table," states Serhiy Konchenko, National Programme Health Officer, IOM Ukraine. "Additionally, we plan to supply a biochemical analyzer and three multifunctional delivery beds."  

During the nearly two-year downtime, specialists from the maternity hospital continued to offer remote consultations to patients and provided services in other hospitals. Svitlana was among them. 

"I came to Kharkiv specifically to give birth at this hospital," says Svitlana, cradling her daughter, born less than a day ago. "My husband and I selected a doctor when planning our pregnancy. Throughout my pregnancy, I was assured that by the time I delivered, the maternity hospital would be renovated. And indeed, it was. I haven't regretted our decision for a moment," she affirms.  

The hospital officially reopened on February 1, 2024, and currently employs 160 full-time staff. In less than half a month since reopening, Kharkiv Maternity Hospital No. 1 has welcomed over 20 healthy babies. Besides providing care to pregnant women, the facility also attends to women with gynecological issues.   

"On the day of our reopening, we delivered two babies and performed one gynecological operation. Since then, our services have not ceased," says the hospital's head. "We have fully restored our pre-war capacity, and I am confident that we will continue to improve and operate as effectively as we did before the war."  

IOM begun recovery and reconstruction efforts in 2023 with immediate priorities of restoring essential health services, responding to urgent medical needs and protecting public health.  

The repairs conducted by IOM and the medical equipment donated as part of the maternity hospital rehabilitation project were funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of United Kingdom and the Government of Norway. 

The story was written by Stylia Kampani, Communications Officer and Anastasiia Rudnieva, Communications Specialist, IOM Ukraine.