India, Oct. 1 -- Children in Ukraine with rare growth disorders are receiving donated growth hormone as war-related disruptions and rising treatment costs threaten access to essential medicines. Direct Relief has provided an initial four-month supply, with thousands more boxes set to reach families through clinics in Kyiv and Dnipro.
Treatment Offers New Growth
For 16-year-old Sasha, who has pituitary dwarfism, the donated medicine has brought measurable progress after years of costly treatment. His parents had spent more than $11,000 annually on medication as his needs increased.
After beginning daily injections with the donated growth hormone, Sasha gained 0.5 cm in two months and reached 169 cm by the end of September. Other parents h...