In wartime, medical professionals and social workers are the first to deal with the consequences of human losses, displacement, trauma and exhaustion. Despite this, most healthcare facilities in the regions remain inaccessible to people with disabilities, and there is virtually no systematic support for staff. According to ZDOROVI's Barometer 2024 study, only 14.6% of medical institutions conduct regular assessments of their employees' mental well-being, while 80% of respondents admit that they try to «cope on their own».

The project aims to change this situation by combining infrastructure solutions, training in inclusive practices, and psychosocial support. Over the course of seven months, the ZDOROVI and PAH teams will conduct an accessibility audit in each of the 12 institutions, hold a series of training sessions on conflict prevention and communication with vulnerable groups, provide expert advice on inclusive design, and organise individual and group psychological support sessions for over 300 medical and social workers.

One of the key outcomes will be the creation of a national video course on accessibility and conflict management, which will be posted on the ZDOROVI and NHSA platforms. This will make training accessible to thousands of professionals across the country, fostering a culture of inclusive, empathetic medicine.

The initiative is in line with Ukraine's national strategy to create a barrier-free environment and supports the Target Model 2.0 of the mental health and psychosocial support system approved by the government. It is also consistent with PAH's overall humanitarian priorities of strengthening local capacity and developing sustainable institutions in communities affected by the war.

The project will run from October 2025 to April 2026 and is expected to cover 12 facilities in the Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions, which have remained under pressure from hostilities in recent years while demonstrating resilience, dedication and a desire for development even in the most difficult conditions.