Zaporizhzhia expands rehabilitation services through Nakopa project

To expand opportunities for physical rehabilitation, Zaporizhzhia and Oberhausen have joined efforts in a bilateral project.

Thanks to cooperation between the two cities, the outpatient rehabilitation and physiotherapy department of City Hospital No. 4 in Zaporizhzhia has received new equipment. Among the additions are specialized physiotherapy devices, a surgical diode laser, a mobile pressure chamber, a treadmill, and a simulator for arms and legs. The equipment is already in use by occupational and physical therapists.

With the new devices, the hospital will be able to broaden and improve the range of services for different groups of patients, including military personnel, war veterans, and people injured in hostilities. Every month, up to 500 people receive outpatient medical rehabilitation at the facility.

The equipment, worth about 68,000 euros, was purchased with grant funding. This became possible through the successful participation in the Nakopa program, which supports cooperation between German and Ukrainian municipalities. The program is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The application was submitted back in 2023. The hospital proposed the list of necessary equipment, the City Development Institute of Zaporizhzhia prepared the project, and partners in Oberhausen helped submit it to the competition.

The project is not only about acquiring equipment, but also about strengthening ties between the twin cities, fostering professional dialogue, and encouraging the bilateral exchange of healthcare expertise. In June, partners organized a video conference with the participation of city officials and doctors from City Hospital No. 4 and the AMEOS rehabilitation center. The Zaporizhzhia medical team shared how their hospital has been operating during the war and presented plans for developing the rehabilitation sector.

The exchange continued in July during a study visit to Oberhausen, where Ukrainian specialists observed the daily work of the AMEOS and ZAR rehabilitation centers, explored German approaches to rehabilitation services, engaged with colleagues, and even agreed on future joint projects.

The project is scheduled to conclude in December, when the partners will present its final results. However, both the Zaporizhzhia and German medical communities are already giving positive feedback.

A video on this story is available here (in Ukrainian).