Several metric tonnes of medical aid procured by WHO reached Donetsk in Ukraine this week as part of the convoy of humanitarian aid delivered by UN agencies. WHO’s contribution consisted of HIV and tuberculosis medical products, HIV test systems and drugs to treat infections in people with weak immunity.
The medical kits will provide treatment for over 38 000 people affected by HIV/AIDS and 5000 people affected by tuberculosis in Donetsk and Luhansk.
In total, 62 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid was delivered to Donetsk, consisting of essential hygiene items, warm clothes, blankets, condensed milk powder, drinking water and medical supplies. The supplies were procured by WHO, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Huge strain on health care and services
“Health care and health services have gone through a dramatic strain in Ukraine’s conflict-affected areas,” said Dr Dorit Nitzan Kaluski, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
Access to care is extremely constrained due to physical destruction of health facilities, financial difficulties with professionals not receiving payments and patients unable to provide out-of-pocket payments, and a massive lack of medical supplies. Displaced people affected by tuberculosis remain unmonitored and HIV-positive patients have no access to medication. In addition, surveillance for diseases is inadequate and outbreaks could have catastrophic consequences.
“With the generous support of the European Commission, the Global Fund, and the governments of Canada, Israel and Estonia, WHO is working together with the health cluster partners to fill these many gaps and provide a lifeline for people and patients needing access to care, vaccines, and other emergency and public health services," Dr Nitzan Kaluski added.
Among the estimated 5 million civilians affected by the crisis in Ukraine, those living in zones of active fighting are particularly vulnerable as they have limited access to humanitarian assistance. The inter-agency UN convoy is only one of the many initiatives the UN and its humanitarian partners are undertaking to provide relief aid to those in need.
Together with the humanitarian organizations operating in Ukraine, UNHCR, UNICEF and WHO are concerned with the absence of secured humanitarian access to deliver aid to children and families affected by the conflict across the country. Since March 2014, over one million people have been displaced within Ukraine. Of these, more than 134 000 are children.
Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine: full coverage
Source: WHO/Europe