Voznesensk Multidisciplinary Hospital serves nearly 190,000 residents in the northern Mykolaiv Region. Around 1,000 patients visit the outpatient clinic daily, and up to 16,000 people are hospitalized here annually.

The vast majority of people arriving at the hospital are in need of immediate emergency care – but resources are limited.

"Doctors are working themselves ragged and seeing significantly more patients than the standard allows for," says Oleksandr Fomenko, the hospital’s medical director.

The staffing shortage at the hospital mirrors one across the region, with staff only filled to about 60 per cent capacity. Young specialists are reluctant to work far from big cities. Experienced personnel are also scarce.

In partnership with the Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk, UNOPS procured and delivered endoscopic and laparoscopic equipment for the hospital's surgical department.

For patients, the new equipment means less invasive surgeries, faster recovery and a lower risk of complications.

And for young doctors, the new equipment provides an opportunity for professional development, even in a small town – helping to turn the tide of the staffing shortage.

From appendectomies and gallbladder removals to complex gynaecological procedures, the new laparoscopic equipment has completely transformed the quality of the healthcare the hospital provides.

Within the first few weeks of the new equipment being installed, the surgical team in Voznesensk had already performed over a dozen laparoscopic operations. Before, people would often have to make the journey to Mykolaiv, which is up to an hour and a half away, because the hospital lacked the needed equipment and specialists.

But now patients can receive the emergency care they need at their local hospital, which is also showing young medical professionals that a future career outside of major cities is possible.

Vladyslav Nazarov – a graduate of Odesa Medical University – came to Voznesensk for his internship. He's wanted to be a surgeon ever since childhood but he didn't think working at a hospital in a small town would be the best career move.

But now, the hospital in Voznesensk has the right conditions for a young specialist's comprehensive development: modern medical equipment and experienced mentors ready to share their knowledge.

With funding from the government of Denmark, UNOPS is carrying out repair work in five hospitals in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. With funding from Novo Nordisk, UNOPS is procuring and delivering priority medical equipment to more than 15 healthcare facilities around the Mykolaiv region.