IPOPI was pleased to take part in the conference “Primary Immunodeficiencies: Clinical Signals for Doctors of Any Speciality” at Kyiv City Children’s Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Organised by Prof Anastasiia Bondarenko and Assoc Prof Yuriy Stepanovskiy, the meeting brought together immunologists from different cities, hospital specialists from various fields, members of the patient organisation RID, including Oksana Strielnikova and Zoya Popova, as well as the hospital director and representatives from Kyiv city’s health authorities and the European University.

IPOPI was proud to be represented by its President, Martine Pergent, who spoke about primary immunodeficiencies worldwide and the mission of the international patient organisation for people affected by these conditions.

The conference addressed key topics, including diagnosis and treatment in Ukraine, patient perspectives, screening practices, and the structure of registered patients at the hospital. It provided an important space for exchange among healthcare professionals, patient representatives, and institutional stakeholders, all working towards better care and greater awareness for people living with primary immunodeficiencies.

Alongside the conference, Martine Pergent also visited the children’s hospital and the reference centre for primary immunodeficiencies in Ukraine. It was a deeply moving visit, offering insight into a reality very different from our own. Among the many striking aspects was the presence of a shelter with capacity for 200 children — a powerful reminder of the challenges faced every day by patients, families and healthcare professionals in this context.

IPOPI is grateful for the opportunity to witness firsthand the dedication, resilience and commitment of those working to support the PID community in Ukraine.