A new research by the World Health Organization reported that every third family in Ukraine that has a member with a chronic condition cannot provide treatment and medication. The war has caused a humanitarian emergency that affected the health and livelihoods of millions, as well as put unprecedented pressure on the medical system exhausted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO claims to have delivered medical supplies and equipment to satisfy at least 7,5 million people in Ukraine. Nevertheless, it is clear that accessing the regions most affected by the war is extremely challenging. Medical infrastructure in Ukraine’s East is either inaccessible due to active combat, like Mariupol, or is substantially damaged or critically undersupplied, like almost all medical institutions in the Luhansk region.
The usual threats caused by warfare, like epidemics of infectious and viral diseases, have already materialized. Due to destruction to water infrastructure, the risk of cholera, dysentery and diphtheria is considerable. War in Ukraine could worsen what is already one of the world’s most serious tuberculosis (TB) epidemics. The chaos and emotional pressure of war have forced the problem of COVID-19 out of the minds of people in Ukraine. Institutional and personal COVID-19 prevention measures have almost completely halted, immunization has slowed down. Access to reproductive health and pregnancy management is considerably limited due to security issues, limited local mobility, broken logistical chains and mass displacement. The healthcare IT systems have sustained at least 160 cyber attacks from February 24 to late April.
One of the most heart-breaking sides of the current healthcare catastrophe is the survival of adults and children with limited mobility. Women and girls, children, and older persons with disabilities, and those internally displaced before recent incidents each face multiple challenges aggravated during conflict. Thousands of children and adults with disabilities are also trapped in institutions facing the risk of being abandoned or of serious negligence. Any help to organizations that support disabled people in need is highly welcome: charities like Fight For Right and Salem are among the trusted ones.
Speakers:
- Ihor Prus, head of the non-profit organization “Salim”
- Olena Neskorodiana, PR& Communications Manager.
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Ukrainian Catholic University’s analitical center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.