A Story of Rescue: How Social Workers Helped Save Olena’s Life

When Olena arrived in Kyiv, she had nowhere to go. Pregnant, exhausted, and displaced from Nikopol — a city under constant shelling — she refused medical care and avoided doctors out of fear.

It was a social worker from the “You Need to Know About Tuberculosis” project who convinced her to undergo screening. The results revealed a severe case of tuberculosis and other life-threatening conditions.

The birth was difficult, and tragically, the baby did not survive. Doctors managed to save Olena’s life, and today she is undergoing treatment and slowly recovering in a safe environment.

This case highlights the crucial role social workers play: not only identifying illness but also giving people in crisis a chance to survive and rebuild their lives.

Read the full story at the link.

The “You Need to Know About Tuberculosis” project is implemented by the NGO Labor and Health Social Initiatives with support from the Public Health Alliance under a Global Fund grant, in partnership with social services and healthcare facilities across Ukraine.