War creates a physical and psychological rehabilitation crisis

Fundraising permit ÅLR 2026/254 (Only applies on The Aland Islands)
Rotary International project no: GG2692058, GG2694164

På svenska    Suomeksi

REHA Ukraine is a medical rehabilitation project strengthening rehabilitation services in Lutsk, Ukraine, within Rotary’s area of focus Disease Prevention and Treatment. The project combines appropriate rehabilitation equipment with structured professional support.

The equipment is integrated into existing municipal healthcare structures and established treatment protocols.

All equipment is procured from Ukrainian suppliers, meets high international quality standards and can be manufactured and maintained locally, strengthening local expertise and operations.

Background and need

The war in Ukraine has created a rapidly growing need for long-term rehabilitation. Every day, civilians and veterans sustain a wide range of injuries, including neurological injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Despite the steadily increasing professional expertise within the Ukrainian healthcare system, rehabilitation capacity remains insufficient in relation to the need.

REHA Ukraine strengthens existing healthcare structures through modern rehabilitation equipment, professional rehabilitation services and knowledge exchange. The equipment is integrated into existing municipal healthcare services and procured from Ukrainian suppliers, which also enables local servicing and long-term maintenance.

The target groups for the support are children, women, civilians and war veterans. The interventions address both the restoration of physical functioning and support for psychological well-being. In practice, this includes rehabilitation equipment and assistive devices, prostheses, physiotherapy, psychological support and family therapy.

The project has a total budget of EUR 200,000 (USD 236,000) and is divided into three main areas of focus:

• EUR 100,000 for the procurement of rehabilitation equipment (REHA I and II)
• EUR 60,000 for the practical implementation of rehabilitation services (REHA II)
• EUR 40,000 for knowledge exchange between Ukrainian and Scandinavian rehabilitation specialists (REHA III)

Objectives and impact

The project’s results are monitored through concrete and measurable indicators. The goal is for at least 2,000 patients per year to receive rehabilitation supported by the new equipment, reaching a minimum of 6,000 patients over three years.

Many of the measurable indicators are standardized for Rotary projects, but we have also developed measures specifically designed to monitor clinical changes in patients. For patients completing structured therapy cycles, improvements in motor function are measured using the Box and Block Test and other clinical assessment tools, with a target of achieving an average improvement of at least 20 percent.

Monitoring also includes ensuring that 100 percent of the rehabilitation equipment procured is installed and in active clinical use within three months of delivery, and that the operational functionality of the equipment is maintained through regular servicing and follow-up.

The project serves both civilians and veterans and is designed to address a long-term need for rehabilitation – both during the ongoing war and in a future time of peace.

Three phases

REHA Ukraine is implemented in three phases, each with its own Rotary Global Grant application.

The first phase, REHA Ukraine I (GG2692058), has a total budget of USD 56,790 and is already fully funded by Rotary Districts 1410, 2365, 2335, 2355 and 2405, the Rotary Clubs of Mariehamn, Nagu and Godby, as well as through funding from The Rotary Foundation’s World Fund. REHA Ukraine I finances rehabilitation equipment for HUB VETERAN in Lutsk. The equipment was procured entirely from Ukrainian suppliers in July 2026 and is currently being integrated into existing rehabilitation services.

We are now beginning the fundraising for REHA Ukraine II – the second and largest phase of the three-year initiative – with a budget of USD 131,980, covering both rehabilitation equipment and rehabilitation services.

All the way back

What matters is not the number of hours – but the range of methods working together.

– Physical rehabilitation (physio-, kinesio- & mechanotherapy · sports · swimming · hippotherapy)
– Psychological support (counselling · psychotherapy (CBT, EMDR) · PTSD treatment)
– Social & family support (family therapy · support groups · return to everyday life)

20% better motor function – and a path back to independent living.

Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring is carried out by the Municipal Rehabilitation Center and HUB VETERAN and coordinated by Lutsk Volyn Pride,

with the Rotary Club of Mariehamn as initiator and lead partner for quality assurance and fundraising.

We measure: Reach and capacity

• Healthcare and rehabilitation specialists trained
• Healthcare facilities benefiting from the interventions
• Local communities with improved access

We measure: Patients & outcomes

• ≥ 2 000 patients per year
  (≥ 6 000 over three years
• ≤ 1 000 veterans per year through
  HUB VETERAN)
• ≥ 20 % better motor function
  (Box & Block-test)

We measure: Equipment & operations

• All equipment in clinical use ≤ 3 months after delivery

• Regular maintenance and servicing

Monitoring methods: surveys, operational statistics, clinical follow-up, and service and maintenance reports.

The equipment is inspected upon delivery to the veteran centres by the Rotary Club of Lutsk Volyn Pride.