Ternopil Medical University Students Become Guardian Angels for the “Virlia” Youth Camp

Six fourth-year students of the Medical Faculty at I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University—Nazarii Buhrak, Sofiia Treshchuk, Alina Babii, Tetiana Vitomska, Mariia Khalimon, and Yana Fyk—provided medical support at the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Camp Virlia from July 6 to 12, 2026. This annual tent camp is organized by the Ternopil Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

Майбутні лікарі упродовж тижня цілодобово дбали про здоров’я, безпеку та самопочуття учасників табору. Робота в польових умовах намThroughout the week, the future physicians worked around the clock to safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of the camp participants. Serving in the field conditions of a tent camp gave the students an excellent opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they had acquired at the university in real-life practice.

During their time at the camp, the students:

conducted daily health monitoring of children and camp staff;

provided first aid and medical assistance for injuries, insect bites, and seasonal illnesses;

monitored compliance with sanitary and hygiene standards in the camp’s field environment.

An especially important part of the students’ work was a practical workshop they organized for the camp participants entitled “First Aid for Fractures.” During the session, the future doctors demonstrated the correct procedures to follow in the event of limb injuries, taught participants how to immobilize injured limbs using improvised materials, and emphasized the importance of providing psychological support to an injured person until medical professionals arrive. Camp participants also had the opportunity to practice these skills themselves, which generated great interest and lively discussion.

The medical students expressed their sincere gratitude to the administration of Ternopil National Medical University for its support and for the opportunity to participate in this important social initiative. They also thanked the Ternopil Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the management of the Virlia camp for the excellent organization of the event, their warm hospitality, comfortable working conditions, and the unforgettable atmosphere of unity.