the screams of Little Veronica resonates down arcade of Pokrovsk maternity hospital in eastern Ukraine as war rages nearby.
The infant was born about two months early and weighed 1.5 kilograms (3 pounds, 4 ounces), and the infant was receiving oxygen through a nasal tube in order to help It has to breathe while UV lamps are inside the incubator treat their larvae.
Dr. Tetiana Myroshnychenko carefully connects the tubes allow Veronica Nutrition on Her mother’s milk stores and comforts her hunger.
before Russia invasion of Ukraine in Late February, three hospitals in governmentControlled areas of War-torn Donetsk region It has care facilities for Premature babies. was one hit by a Russian air strike, and the other was forced to close it as a result of Fighting – only leaving the maternity hospital in coal mining city of Pokrovsk still operating.
Myroshnychenko, the only neonatologist remaining on site, now lives in the hospital. her 3-year-Old son Divide the week between staying at the facility and with for him fathercoal miner, in home.
The doctor explains why it is impossible to leave: even when the air sirens are scared soundchildren in The above ground nursery wing of the hospital cannot be separated from the rescue device machines.
“If I carry Veronica to the shelter, it will take five minutes. But for Hey, it might be those five minutes critical”Myroshnychenko says.
Hospital officials say the ratio of births occur prematurely or with Doubling this is almost double year Compared to before timesblaming stress and rapidly deteriorating living standards for cause losses on pregnant women resident left in The area.
Russia and the Moscow-backed separatists are now occupying just over half Donetsk regionwhich is similar in Sized to Sicily or Massachusetts. Pokrovsk still in Ukrainian government- under control area 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of front lines.
Speak from inside the hospital’s maternity wards of The war is frustrating.
“Everything happens outside this is building of Of course fears usBut we’re not talking about it, Miroshnichenko said. “they main The worry now is baby. “
Although fighting in Donetsk region I started back in 2014, when Russian-backed separatists began fighting government and take over slash of The region new Only moms are kept now in the hospital for Longer periods due to less opportunity for To receive care once they are discharged from the hospital.
Among them 23-year- Old Inna Kiselchenko from Pokrovsk. Shaking her two-day-old baby daughter Yesenia, she was thinking joining The region, intensive evacuation westward to safer areas in Ukraine when you leave the hospital. Many basic services in governmentPortable areas of Donetsk region Heat, electricity, and water supplies were damaged by Russian bombing, leaving living conditions that are expected to worsen as winter approaches.
“I’m afraid for Long live the little ones, not only for us, but for All the children for All of Kiselchenko said.
More than 12 million people in They fled from Ukraine homes Because of the war, according to UN aid agencies. Around half They were displaced within Ukraine and the rest moved to other European countries countries.
Maternity hospital transfer out of Pokrovsk, however, is not option.
If the hospital is transferred, patients still have to remain Chief Physician Dr. Ivan Tsyganok said, who They kept working even when the city was hit with Russian missiles fire.
“Baby birth is not something that can be stopped or rescheduled,” he noted.
The nearest available maternity facility is in Dnipropetrovsk, neighboring Ukraine region3 1/2 hours drive Along the secondary roads, a journey considered perilous for women in late-term Pregnancy.
last week 24-year- Andrey Dobrilia, aged 27, and his wife Marina, 27, arrived at the hospital from a nearby village. They looked worried, they didn’t talk as much as the doctors carried out a series of Tests then led Marina to operating area for Section C. Tsyganok and his colleagues In a hurry changed their clothes and prepared for Action.
Twenty minutes later, screams of new born baby The boy could be heard Timur. After the examination, Timur was taken to meet him father in adjoining room.
Almost afraid to breathe, Andre Dobrilia tenderly kissed Timur head whispered to him. The newborn calmed down down on His father’s tears came to Andre eyes.
With the arrival of the war six month mark, Tsyganok and his colleagues They say they have more optimistic reason to remain.
“these children We come to world will be the future of Ukraine,” says Tsiganok. “I think their lives will be different from ours. They will live outside war.”
the screams of Little Veronica resonates down arcade of Pokrovsk maternity hospital in eastern Ukraine as war rages nearby.
The infant was born about two months early and weighed 1.5 kilograms (3 pounds, 4 ounces), and the infant was receiving oxygen through a nasal tube in order to help It has to breathe while UV lamps are inside the incubator treat their larvae.
Dr. Tetiana Myroshnychenko carefully connects the tubes allow Veronica Nutrition on Her mother’s milk stores and comforts her hunger.
before Russia invasion of Ukraine in Late February, three hospitals in governmentControlled areas of War-torn Donetsk region It has care facilities for Premature babies. was one hit by a Russian air strike, and the other was forced to close it as a result of Fighting – only leaving the maternity hospital in coal mining city of Pokrovsk still operating.
Myroshnychenko, the only neonatologist remaining on site, now lives in the hospital. her 3-year-Old son Divide the week between staying at the facility and with for him fathercoal miner, in home.
The doctor explains why it is impossible to leave: even when the air sirens are scared soundchildren in The above ground nursery wing of the hospital cannot be separated from the rescue device machines.
“If I carry Veronica to the shelter, it will take five minutes. But for Hey, it might be those five minutes critical”Myroshnychenko says.
Hospital officials say the ratio of births occur prematurely or with Doubling this is almost double year Compared to before timesblaming stress and rapidly deteriorating living standards for cause losses on pregnant women resident left in The area.
Russia and the Moscow-backed separatists are now occupying just over half Donetsk regionwhich is similar in Sized to Sicily or Massachusetts. Pokrovsk still in Ukrainian government- under control area 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of front lines.
Speak from inside the hospital’s maternity wards of The war is frustrating.
“Everything happens outside this is building of Of course fears usBut we’re not talking about it, Miroshnichenko said. “they main The worry now is baby. “
Although fighting in Donetsk region I started back in 2014, when Russian-backed separatists began fighting government and take over slash of The region new Only moms are kept now in the hospital for Longer periods due to less opportunity for To receive care once they are discharged from the hospital.
Among them 23-year- Old Inna Kiselchenko from Pokrovsk. Shaking her two-day-old baby daughter Yesenia, she was thinking joining The region, intensive evacuation westward to safer areas in Ukraine when you leave the hospital. Many basic services in governmentPortable areas of Donetsk region Heat, electricity, and water supplies were damaged by Russian bombing, leaving living conditions that are expected to worsen as winter approaches.
“I’m afraid for Long live the little ones, not only for us, but for All the children for All of Kiselchenko said.
More than 12 million people in They fled from Ukraine homes Because of the war, according to UN aid agencies. Around half They were displaced within Ukraine and the rest moved to other European countries countries.
Maternity hospital transfer out of Pokrovsk, however, is not option.
If the hospital is transferred, patients still have to remain Chief Physician Dr. Ivan Tsyganok said, who They kept working even when the city was hit with Russian missiles fire.
“Baby birth is not something that can be stopped or rescheduled,” he noted.
The nearest available maternity facility is in Dnipropetrovsk, neighboring Ukraine region3 1/2 hours drive Along the secondary roads, a journey considered perilous for women in late-term Pregnancy.
last week 24-year- Andrey Dobrilia, aged 27, and his wife Marina, 27, arrived at the hospital from a nearby village. They looked worried, they didn’t talk as much as the doctors carried out a series of Tests then led Marina to operating area for Section C. Tsyganok and his colleagues In a hurry changed their clothes and prepared for Action.
Twenty minutes later, screams of new born baby The boy could be heard Timur. After the examination, Timur was taken to meet him father in adjoining room.
Almost afraid to breathe, Andre Dobrilia tenderly kissed Timur head whispered to him. The newborn calmed down down on His father’s tears came to Andre eyes.
With the arrival of the war six month mark, Tsyganok and his colleagues They say they have more optimistic reason to remain.
“these children We come to world will be the future of Ukraine,” says Tsiganok. “I think their lives will be different from ours. They will live outside war.”