A Children's Hope: Dermatome to Save Children with Burns

In the spring of 2023, Kyivstar, together with the charitable platform dobro.ua from the Ukrainian Charity Exchange, partnered with the National Rehabilitation Center “Nezlamni” to expand the “Children’s Hope” charitable program by adding a new focus: helping children with burns.

This initiative arose in response to the consequences of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to statistics, approximately 12,000 children suffer burns each year, of whom 25–40 die from injuries incompatible with life. Due to the war, this number, unfortunately, is growing daily.

Burn injuries rank second among childhood injuries and are among the most difficult to treat. Today, Ukraine is forced to send the most severely injured children abroad due to a lack of sterile conditions and modern medical equipment.

The pediatric burn unit at the “Nezlamni” National Rehabilitation Center, located at the First Medical Association of Lviv, has become one of the key centers providing care for children affected by the war. The facility has admitted over 3,000 children who were forced to flee the fighting, 250 of whom have mine-blast injuries and burns from various regions of Ukraine.

Using funds raised by Kyivstar subscribers, the center plans to purchase an Acculan 4 dermatome—a specialized surgical instrument that helps doctors treat patients with severe skin damage resulting from burns and injuries. Thanks to its high precision, the device allows for the even harvesting of skin grafts, which significantly increases the chances of successful healing.

Such equipment is critical for performing complex surgeries and promoting skin regeneration, and thus for helping children return to a life free from pain and the severe consequences of their injuries.