Improving access to care and education for displaced persons : a Ukrainian-displaced-mother in The Netherlands with a child in need

Abstract

Since 24th of February 2022, Ukrainian women and children have fled their country en masse because of the Russian invasion of their country. Husbands, fathers, brothers and male friends mostly stayed behind to defend the country. It is hard to imagine what it means having to flee your country and not knowing where you will end up. This happened to Vladka (45 years), a single mother from Kiev. In March 2022, she left her father behind and boarded a train towards Poland with her eightyear-old son, Kolka. A smartphone was the only means of contact with her father. A train trip to Poland normally takes 24 hours, now it took 10 days. Sometimes there was no food or water. Little Kolka has autism and A.D.H.D. He did not understand what was happening. In his head there was just chaos. Fellow passengers found his behaviour very disturbing. Arriving in Poland, mother and son slept with 8 unknown people in a shelter. The first seat on a bus that became available drove to the Netherlands. Vladka and Kolka boarded that bus. In this commentary you will read what happened in the Netherlands, in the new world for Vladka and Kolka. As an interpreter, the author had the opportunity to learn directly from mother and son, and to see what happened in the surrounding environment. The mother's search for help for her infant son is the focus. The reactions of the professionals are also in focus. [excerpt]