General practitioner Zhanna Matviienko had to leave the clinic and the patients she had been treating for years and decades. The full-scale war forced her to move from Dobropillia, located in the Donetsk region, to Lutsk. However, she works here in her speciality and still helps people. And the new team, she says, has become like a family.
Zhanna Matviienko has devoted more than 40 years of her life to medicine. She worked in Dobropillia in the therapeutic department of the central district hospital. She then became its head. She says that work was not easy, because seriously ill patients were brought there, as well as in intensive care.
She was working around the clock. She worked in such a mode for ten years. But then she could not continue working anymore.
“It took me a year to recover, and a few years ago I started working in a private clinic. Just three days before the outbreak of the full-scale war, I was walking home and thinking to myself: “Lord, is it true that after so many years you have finally allowed me to feel real pleasure from work”. Nobody rushed me - I could devote an hour and a half to one patient. In general, it so happens, work means my life because I love people very much”, - Ms. Zhanna says.
The woman notes that she did not have any terrible premonitions about the war.
“I could not imagine that this could happen. I could not believe it, even when the first explosions occurred. How in the 21st century can we not solve everything peacefully? How can neighbours suddenly attack us? And then in one day, everything changed”.
Ms. Zhanna adds: “At first there was no thought of leaving. We hoped that the horror would soon pass. But then there were more and more talks that the occupiers were interested in Donbas, that people there could find themselves in hell”.
“We stayed until April. And then my brother once said: “Zhanna, at least collect the necessary documents because at any moment we may have to pack up and run away”.
It was not too difficult to leave Dobropillia. Instead, it was harder to decide where to go. Since our niece lived in Lutsk, we decided to go there”.
“The missiles were already hitting Dobropillia when we left the locality. When we got here, we thought that we would soon return home. But as it turned out, there were explosions near the location where I work. And it was like a warning - not to come back!”
They got from Dobropillia to Lutsk by bus. It was difficult to settle in at first, as the four of them had to cram into a one-room apartment. Later, she was able to get a job at the Behealthy Clinic as a general practitioner, for such a wonderful opportunity she expresses gratitude to the Clinic’s Director – Mr. Ivan Husak. This made it possible to rent a separate room.
“I was very impressed by the kind and sincere people here. When I went to work, I did not even notice the answer, because I fell in love with this city. It is clean, well-groomed and beautiful. Twice I got lost and asked passers-by for help. I am very pleased that they not only showed me the way but also undertook to guide me,” - Ms. Zhanna tells.
Now among her patients are both residents and IDPs from different regions. There are also regular patients from Dobropillya. Every day she gets calls from people who, she says, have already become like her family. It is possible to sign a declaration with Ms. Zhanna Matviienko as a general practitioner and then to be duly provided with the necessary medical care free of charge.
“The clinic team has become my family. These are extraordinary people! Every day begins with them asking me what help I need”.
Now, the doctor says, she is not as eager to go back to Dobropillia as it was in the first months after leaving. Her relatives and people who need professional help are living here.
Ms. Zhanna Matviienko sincerely believes that poetry is a certain salvation from sad thoughts. She has been writing poems for a long time, but a few years ago her poetry became completely Ukrainian.