Introduction to a Humanitarian Volunteer Mission
In a rural village near the Ukrainian front, a group of women gathered quietly in front of a purple and white ambulance, waiting to see Dr. Serhii Baksheiev. For many of them, it was the first time they had seen a doctor in over three years, since the beginning of the war. Dr. Baksheiev, a 53-year-old obstetrician and gynecologist, has carried out over 1,000 gynecological examinations in his mobile ambulance, known as "The Feminine Shuttle," since 2022.
The War’s Impact on Ukraine’s Health System
The war with Russia has significantly burdened Ukraine’s health system, with over 1,940 attacks on health facilities since the invasion, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the highest number in any humanitarian crisis so far, and the attacks continue to increase. When the war started, Dr. Baksheiev spent his days in a bunker in Kyiv, delivering babies as bombs fell around him.
The Idea for a Mobile Clinic
The idea for a mobile clinic came to Dr. Baksheiev after medical volunteer missions on the front revealed a lack of facilities due to destroyed medical centers and hospitals. "We went to Kharkiv and Chernihiv, which were very damaged, and the most difficult thing was not providing gynecological services because there were no tools and equipment, everything was ruined," he says. Dr. Baksheiev and his team had to use whatever they could find as an exam table, including old sofas, which meant he had to kneel on the floor to carry out examinations.
The Mobile Clinic’s Capabilities
Today, Dr. Baksheiev’s mobile clinic is equipped with everything he and his team need to provide medical care in remote areas, including an ultrasound machine and medical equipment. During a two-day mission, the team can carry out up to 80 colposcopies, which examine the cervix and vulva for signs of cancer or pre-cancerous tissue. The work is crucial for people living in these remote areas, where medical facilities are scarce or non-existent.
Secret Visits to Occupied Villages
Dr. Baksheiev’s visits to small rural villages occupied by Russians are often carried out in secret. He and his team slip in for a day or two to carry out their exams and leave before they are discovered. The figures from the Ukrainian Ministry of Public Health show that detection rates for ovarian and cervical cancer have increased by 17% and 10% since 2020. When doctors like Dr. Baksheiev enter these areas to carry out examinations, they often find an above-average incidence of malignant tumors.
The Health Consequences of War
Dr. Ulana Suprun, former Minister of Health in Ukraine, says that the "ticking time bomb" of health consequences from the war is a major concern. "In the public health community, there is definitely a great concern about what will happen in the course of the war," she says. "Not only in terms of physical health, but also in mental health, because there is constant stress, constant psychological trauma." The government has managed to partially or completely rebuild up to 964 medical facilities damaged by Russia, and they are working with the WHO and other international organizations to develop a plan to rebuild the health system.
Continuing to Provide Care
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in September 2024, Dr. Baksheiev continues to volunteer and treat women across the country. "Apart from the medical examination, you can also listen to them because many patients have stories about how the Russians attacked their villages," he says. "So we are not just doctors, we are therapists for these patients." Dr. Baksheiev’s dedication to providing medical care in the midst of war is a testament to the resilience and compassion of healthcare workers in Ukraine.
