Hospital, Beregowo Ukraine
Beregowo and Vinogrado are situated in south-west Ukraine, near the border with Hungary. The people here are very poor, and parents are often unable to bring up or feed their children. Many new-borns are left behind in hospital by their mothers.
The Baby Department
The situation in the hospital is harrowing, with little prospect of a bright future. There is a shortage of medicines and good medical care, as many wards are understaffed. The babies are fed very irregularly, hardly ever changed or bathed, in poor hygiene, and receive little if any love and affection — starting life with a lack of love and security.
A Chance for Children
Eastern European Outreach International and its partner Children’s Relief have been active at the Beregowo hospital since 1997, from where the work spread to hospitals in Svalyava, Uzghorod and Vinogrado. In co-operation with the hospitals, our aim is to give these deserted children a better future. Volunteers work on the children’s ward with the vision of spreading Christ’s love through their service by:
- Giving the children love and attention, stimulating their development
- Being an example for the Ukrainian staff
- Providing material help in the form of food, nappies and other care products
- Providing medicines and medical care
- Improving the social climate so the ward is more child-friendly
Changes
As of 2019, much has changed. Fewer children are left at the hospitals, which now send children more quickly to orphanages. There are currently no teams working in Uzghorod and Svalyava; in Vinogrado two young women are working in the hospital, and the Beregowo team’s work comes and goes as babies are sometimes, but not always, there to look after. Further changes are expected as the government plans to create half-way houses, where a baby strong enough to leave hospital will go either back to a parent or to a half-way house until old enough for an orphanage.
A Gift for a Child
You can help these children by making a donation, so we can ensure they get the love and care they need, as well as food, nappies and medicines. Let us not forget these deserted children — without our help they face a bleak future.