In October, we partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO), UOSSM, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to deliver our frontline surgical courses in Ukraine. Thanks to the support of our partners, we were able to train 71 medical professionals from across the country, including the frontlines, who travelled to Kyiv to gain essential trauma care skills. These newly acquired skills will be crucial as they return to their hospitals and provide care in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable. 

Since the onset of the war, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine’s medical community. Our mission has been clear: to empower medical professionals who face the realities of war injuries every day. To date, we have trained a total of 666 healthcare workers across Ukraine and built a dedicated team of Ukrainian instructors who, this October, successfully led the Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course. This October mission was a milestone, as it included an adaptation of the courses tailored to Ukraine’s needs, extending our usual three-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training-Anaesthesia (HEST-A) course to five days, allowing us to deliver even more course content.

Empowering Frontline Nurses and Strengthening Local Healthcare 

This mission to Ukraine marked many milestones for us, one being the pilot of our Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course specifically designed for nurses. In this pilot course, we trained 15 nurses, equipping them with vital trauma care skills. Just as importantly, this course offered us an opportunity to learn from the participants themselves. As they shared their insights, experiences, and specific challenges they face on the ground, we were able to gain a deeper understanding of how we can adapt and enhance our training to best meet their needs in conflict settings. 

Nurses are at the heart of frontline healthcare, providing continuous care in some of the most intense and difficult environments. Their bravery and commitment are essential not only in treating patients but also in strengthening healthcare systems in conflict zones. We firmly believe that building resilient healthcare systems requires empowering and supporting nurses. 

In addition to training, we are committed to localisation in Ukraine. We do this in a number of ways, including the local employment of key programmatic team members, building relationships with local suppliers and ensuring our strategy is fully in line with that of the Ministry of Health and affiliated bodies.  This approach ensures that our training sessions are adapted to locally available resources, we support the local economy, and we deliver a sustainable product for the future of Ukraine.  

Our team’s dedication has been unwavering. They travelled long hours, often overnight, and took shelter alongside Ukrainians as they navigated the challenges of delivering these courses amidst ongoing conflict. This commitment was evident in every moment of training. 

“As my first deployment with the Foundation, seeing the dedication and resilience of the Ukrainian surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses, who both delivered and attended the courses, palpably highlighted the importance of DNF’s role in providing not only training, but also solidarity.” – Hetty Cane, DNF Programmes Officer

The Power of Partnerships 

Our work would not be possible without the strength and commitment of our partners. With critical funding from the WHO, logistical support from UOSSM, and guidance from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, we have been able to deliver life-saving training in Ukraine. These partnerships are central to our mission, enabling us to empower frontline medical professionals and make a lasting impact on healthcare in conflict zones. Together, we are building a future where medical teams are equipped, resilient, and ready to save lives when it matters most. 

“This mission was a huge step towards our goal of localising our HEST courses in Ukraine. It was a mission of firsts. It was a privilege to collaborate with UOSSM, headed up by Ahmed Aldbis and Muhammad Zaydiye, who, with their team, worked with us to enable these courses. We’re indebted to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, WHO-Ukraine and Bogomolets National Medical University for partnering with us.” – Nick Cartwright, DNF Head of Operations

Find out more about our work in Ukraine