First published September 30, 2025 by FHI 360
For Sofiia, 81 – a former milkmaid and electrician living with her 58-year-old son, who is blind – visits with members of a mobile medical team gave her a second chance at life.
When her village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region was under occupation, Sofiia began experiencing debilitating knee and back pain. It was so severe that she struggled to leave her home.
Sofiia sought help from a family doctor who works for one of FHI 360’s mobile medical teams in Ukraine. Her “first impression of the FHI 360 team was very positive,” she says. “The family doctor carefully talked to me, examined me, prescribed treatment [and] medication, and referred me to a rehabilitation specialist” on the team, Olena Lutsenko.
Olena sees five or six patients a day. They often suffer from issues such as joint pain, lower back pain and chronic stress symptoms like anxiety and poor sleep.
“At the first visit, Sofiia was depressed and did not really hope for an improvement in her condition,” says Olena.
Mobile medical teams provide health care to conflict-affected communities
War has weakened the social infrastructure of communities like Sofiia’s, diminishing access to basic services at a time when more people need access to health care. In July 2025, the country hit a grim milestone, with the number of civilians killed and injured reaching a three-year monthly high, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. “Whether you are in a hospital or a prison, at home or at work, close to or far away from the frontline, if you are in Ukraine today, you are at risk of getting killed or injured by the war,” says Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
To reach communities like Sofiia’s in Southern and Eastern Ukraine, FHI 360 implements the Ukraine Humanitarian Assistance Response Program, with support from the U.S. Department of State. Through the project, FHI 360 manages 11 mobile medical teams working in conflict-affected areas, offering health services, including rehabilitative care, to people who need them.
Olena showed Sofiia how to perform simple exercises to lessen her pain, strengthen her balance and improve her mobility. She also gave her a cane, which has helped her increase her independence.
After six weeks, Sofiia’s balance improved, her pain levels decreased, and her confidence grew. She was able to move freely again – walking to the store, moving around her yard, doing household chores – which improved her overall mood.
Ukraine is one of the “oldest” countries in the world – nearly a quarter of its population is over the age of 60. Older people can have more extensive medical needs and during conflict, they are at a heightened risk of experiencing violence, according to Amnesty International. As a result, there are many people like Sofiia in need of care.
As of August 2025, FHI 360’s teams had provided rehabilitative care to more than 2,200 people. These teams deliver services directly, visiting those with limited mobility in their homes and holding clinic hours at existing health posts. They often travel to remote communities to supply local residents with rehabilitation resources and assistance.
Hope and healing amid war
For Sofiia, the support that she received from FHI 360 “helps maintain hope for an end to the war in Ukraine and the return of peace.”
FHI 360’s rehabilitation specialists, like Olena, take a personalized, compassionate approach to meeting each patient’s needs. Beyond simply selecting and fitting assistive devices, specialists offer ongoing training and care, helping to restore people’s independence and improve their quality of life.
Each assistive device is more than just equipment – it can be a lifeline for those enduring the harsh realities of life in rural, conflict-affected areas. Often, says Olena, a person will need several assistive devices that can improve their quality of life.
Olena remains committed to supporting her patients with the health care they need.
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