Resilient Doctor Brings Vital Women's Health Services to Conflict Zones in Ukraine

In the shadow of war, Dr. Serhii Baksheiev has transformed a mobile ambulance into a beacon of hope for women in Ukraine's front-line areas. With over 1,000 gynecological examinations since 2022 and a commitment to free healthcare, he navigates danger to ensure women's health needs are met amid significant healthcare disruptions caused by the conflict.

In a rural area near the front lines of Ukraine, women quietly gather outside a mobile clinic—painted in the national colors of blue and yellow—run by Dr. Serhii Baksheiev. For many, it's their first visit to a doctor since the onset of the war more than three years ago. Since 2022, Dr. Baksheiev, a 53-year-old obstetrician and gynaecologist, has conducted over 1,000 gynecological examinations in various front-line and occupied regions using his mobile facility known as 'The Feminine Shuttle,' which is equipped with essential medical technology, including an ultrasound machine.

“This is a humanitarian volunteering mission,” Dr. Baksheiev explains, highlighting that all services provided are free for those in desperate need. The ongoing conflict has severely strained Ukraine's healthcare infrastructure, resulting in over 1,940 attacks on health facilities, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). This situation disproportionately affects women, many of whom have limited access to basic healthcare as the war grinds on.

Initially stationed in a bunker in Kyiv, Dr. Baksheiev's experiences of helping deliver babies while bombings rattled above led him to establish the mobile clinic after realizing the dire lack of health resources on the front lines. His journeys to areas like Kharkiv and Chernihiv, both heavily damaged by conflict, underscored the urgent necessity for gynecological services.

Armed with determination and an array of medical tools, Dr. Baksheiev and his team efficiently conduct examinations, performing up to 80 colposcopies during each two-day mission. Their efforts are crucial: statistics from the Ukrainian public health ministry indicate alarming drops in cancer detection rates, alongside a growing prevalence of malignancies in women due to lack of medical care during the war.

In a stark reminder of the impact of prolonged conflict, Dr. Ulana Supron, the former Ukrainian health minister, warns of a looming health crisis: "As the war continues, not just physical health but mental health is at stake due to ongoing psychological trauma." The government has attempted to repair nearly 1,000 damaged medical facilities, but the road ahead remains challenging.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer himself in September 2024, Dr. Baksheiev’s dedication to serving women hasn’t waned. He provides not only medical examinations but also emotional support to those who have faced unimaginable trauma from the violence that encroaches even into rural sanctuaries. "We’re not just doctors; we’re therapists," he remarks, capturing the dual role that he and his team embody amidst the relentless hardships of war-torn Ukraine.