UNHCR and the Ministry of Social Policy open renovated sanatorium with social services to support displaced and other war-affected people

© UNHCR/Tetiana Kuras

Myrhorod, Poltava region – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, today officially inaugurated the renovated Slava Sanatorium, transforming it into a safe and dignified facility for accommodation and social service provision for older people, people with disabilities or in otherwise vulnerable conditions, displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

UNHCR has undertaken a comprehensive renovation and refurbishment of the building that offers assisted living social service. The works have focused on improving living conditions and upgrading the essential infrastructure such as heating, electrical network, ventilation, water, and sewage systems to create a comfortable environment for all residents, including those with disabilities.Beyond the physical rehabilitation, Slava Sanatorium is also part of a progressive pilot programme. In close cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, UNHCR and NGO partner Right to Protection are working to strengthen the capacity of social workers in the Sanatorium and community to facilitate social adaptation, which will enable internally displaced people who are currently residing in the sanatorium to live independently in the community. 

With tailored social adaptation plans, the displaced people are supported and empowered to attain a longer-term solution, while also strengthening community bonds and facilitating their inclusion into a new community. This is particularly important for older people who – prior to their displacement and for some destruction and occupation of their homes – lived independently in their houses, often with support of neighbors and family members living nearby. 

This joint effort between