The old polyclinic building at 25 Mazepy Street has been remodelled into a modern rehabilitation building, the first section of which opened today, 11 April. Patients of the UNBROKEN center are already working with rehabilitation specialists here. It has seven floors with the most modern recovery equipment. Every year, 10,000 Ukrainians will be able to receive help here.

A glass bridge connects the rehabilitation building of the UNBROKEN National center with the main hospital block. Cooperation with surgeons, traumatologists and other specialists working in the medical institution’s team, and access to all the necessary diagnostic equipment, will ensure the complete cycle of care.

“This bridge you walked on today was built in three months. And it’s unrealistic in any country, but it is possible in Ukraine. Is it possible to repair and restore seven floors of rehabilitation space in four months? Because it is for our Heroes who protect us on the frontline. That’s why we have a big goal to build the UNBROKEN ecosystem in Ukraine. It includes the best surgery, rehabilitation, housing construction, job search, sports and art. But we couldn’t have done it without a little piece of heart from everyone involved. The Red Cross and the mayor of Freiburg have put a part of their hearts into it. Freiburg helped us the most during the war. Our colleagues from many international organisations have put a part of their hearts into it. Thank you very much for this,” said Andrii Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv.

Modern equipment was installed in the new building of the rehabilitation center: a robotic walking system, exoskeletons, robotic gloves that help to move the arm, etc. There are also rehabilitation halls with steel lifts so that bedridden patients can move to the pool or rehabilitation room.

Soon, the swimming pool will also start working, as water rehabilitation is an integral part of recovery. The building also has an ergotherapy apartment with a kitchen, where patients can learn to care for themselves in the most homely environment possible. Occupational therapists will help them to hold a toothbrush or pencil again. There will also be a simulated store where patients can practice shopping. At the new building, physical rehabilitation specialists will work with psychologists and psychotherapists to provide comprehensive assistance to people affected by the war.

The reconstruction of the modern building of the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation center began at the end of December 2012.

“People affected by war should be treated in the best possible conditions. The conditions here are the best. From centimetres to metres – all areas are for our patients. A team of the best doctors and nurses will treat our patients here. This building was not built by one person – it was by a huge team from different cities in Ukraine and the world. I want to thank everyone: from the nurse and the doctor to the mayor, cities and deputies. I want to thank our sponsors, partner cities Freiburg and Wroclaw and their mayors. I am grateful to our great benefactor, the Direct Relief Foundation, which helps us a lot, as well as to the German government and the Swiss Embassy. And to all those who have contributed to this project. From tomorrow, this building will start receiving patients, both inpatients and outpatients, from all over Ukraine,” said Oleh Samchuk, CEO of the Lviv First Medical Union.

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society and Lviv’s partner cities of Freiburg and Vilnius supported the reconstruction of the building. A floor in the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation center building is dedicated to each partner involved in the renovation.

“Great ideas symbolically begin in Lviv. That is why we are so successful. I am proud of the results we have achieved together because it is only possible with the support of a fantastic team. And we joined without hesitation. The first step of Unbroken Mothers showed that we were on the right track. For us, this is an opportunity to give people affected by the war a chance to change their lives. These are military personnel, civilian children, and women. It’s a great opportunity to change your life,” said Maksym Dotsenko, CEO of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

“We had never received more donations from the residents of Freiburg than when we raised funds for our partner city – Lviv. In such difficult times, we must show true friendship and solidarity. And sure, when Andrii Sadovyi offered to become one of the first project ambassadors, I immediately agreed. I am impressed by the pace at which this transformation has taken place,” said Martin Horn, Mayor of Freiburg, who supported the UNBROKEN project. Thus, he symbolically handed over a piece of Freiburg’s history – a stone in the cathedral foundations constructed by ordinary citizens over 300 years.

Direct Relief International Foundation and the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine provided equipment for the halls. Signify provided the lighting equipment for the building.

IKEA supported the furnishing of the building. The architectural and engineering company abmk provided the planning of the rehabilitation complex, interior design, and support during construction.