Ukrainian doctors visited Gothenburg for a professional exchange

In February, Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) was honored to facilitate a unique initiative bringing Ukrainian and Swedish medical professionals together. For over two weeks, doctors from Pavlohrad and Zaporizhzhia participated in a professional exchange at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, sharing clinical expertise and the practical realities of medicine in a war zone.

While the hospital exchange was the core of their visit, the HUG team invited the doctors to lead two community events that focused on both practical skills and personal stories.

First-aid workshop for Ukrainian youth

The doctors conducted a hands-on first aid workshop for Ukrainian youth in Gothenburg. The session was highly practical, covering CPR and how to respond if someone loses consciousness.  

In which the youth could ask the doctors about their. A major focus was placed on the correct use of tourniquets; every participant had the chance to practice, learning how to stop life-threatening bleeding and use improvised materials in a crisis. The atmosphere was warm and engaging, ending with a Q&A where the youth could ask about the doctors’ work in frontline mobile hospitals.

Open talk on 24 February: what it means to save lives in Ukraine today

On February 24th, we invited the doctors to share their journey with the Swedish community. They spoke openly about their path into military medicine and its differences from civilian practice. They walked us through the difficult "medical chain" — describing the journey a soldier takes from the moment of injury on the battlefield to stabilization, evacuation, and the long road of rehabilitation.

The conversation was honest and deeply personal. Besides their professional experience, we asked the doctors what helps them stay focused under such pressure and continue their vital work. They shared that they are sustained by teamwork, by the humor that becomes an inseparable part of working in extreme conditions, by phone calls home, and by the knowledge that they will see their families — twice a year. And by something else: the awareness that even far from the frontline, there are people who care, and who continue supporting Ukraine.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to facilitate this dialogue between Ukrainian and Swedish colleagues. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the doctors for their openness and dedication. Together, we build more than partnerships — we build mutual understanding.