A group of medical students in Lutsk, Ukraine, is taking proactive steps to address poor posture in children and young people, a health issue with significant long-term consequences. Led by 19-year-old Yaroslav, a second-year medical student, the initiative began as part of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UPSHIFT program, a youth innovation effort aimed at tackling community challenges. Yaroslav, who had previously trained in first aid to assist during the ongoing war, saw this as an opportunity to further support his community’s health needs.
Yaroslav’s team, dubbed ‘Back to Balance,’ which includes fellow medical students Serhii, Daryna, and Yaroslava, set up a free postural diagnostic service at their university. While still in training themselves, they collaborated with a licensed physiotherapist and rehabilitation specialist to conduct the assessments. Using advanced diagnostic tools, including 2D videography, the team demonstrates to young patients how simple home exercises can correct posture and prevent related health issues.
“The impact of poor posture on children’s lives is substantial, affecting everything from their internal organs to their movement and breathing,” explains Yaroslav. “We need to address this early to ensure healthy spinal development.”
Each examination takes about 40 minutes, during which a specialist assesses the patient’s posture. Following the assessment, patients receive a detailed report and, if necessary, a referral to a specialist who can provide a personalized treatment plan. The team encourages young patients to return for follow-up exams to track their progress over time, ensuring consistent care.
To date, 52 students have received professional assessments through the project, which goes beyond the diagnostic room. Yaroslav’s team also led an extensive awareness campaign across schools in Lutsk, educating more than 2,000 students about the importance of postural health and the availability of free diagnostic services.
“I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made,” says Yaroslav. “We started this as medical students—just beginners in our field. To see how much we’ve contributed to our community’s health, even at this early stage in our careers, is amazing.”
The UPSHIFT program, run by UNICEF, seeks to empower young people to address the various humanitarian challenges brought on by the war in Ukraine. Last year, 459 youth-led teams, involving over 2,000 young people, participated in the initiative, positively impacting more than 30,000 individuals across the country.
Through their project, Yaroslav and his team have shown that even in the midst of war, young people can play a vital role in improving the health and well-being of their communities.
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