The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed this Monday a total of 31 attacks against health centers since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, resulting in 12 deaths and 34 injuries, of which 8 of the wounded and 2 of the dead were health workers.
"The WHO strongly condemns acts of violence against healthcare. Each of the attacks deprives people of life-saving services. Attacks on healthcare are violations of international human rights and humanitarian law"says the WHO through a statement.
Since the Russian military offensive in Ukraine began on February 24, WHO has been working to ensure a steady flow of health supplies so that neighboring countries have the infrastructure to meet the needs of refugees, as well as to support the Ukraine’s healthcare system so that it can meet the immediate healthcare needs of its citizens.
The current number of affected people in Ukraine is estimated at 18 million, of whom 6.7 million are internally displaced. Nearly 3 million people have fled the country.
"Supply chains have been severely disrupted. Many distributors are not operational, some stocks are inaccessible due to military operations, drug supplies are running low, and hospitals are struggling to care for the sick and injured."explains the United Nations health agency.
WHO is also working with partners to address shortages of equipment and medicines such as oxygen and insulin, surgical supplies, anesthesia and transfusion equipment to safely collect, test and transfuse blood.
Oxygen generators, generators to maintain electricity supply in the affected health centers, defibrillators, monitors, anesthesia drugs, rehydration salts, gauze and bandages are some of the medical supplies that the WHO and its partners are sending to Ukraine to save lives and maintain health services.
Some 600 doses of tetanus toxoid arrived in kyiv on March 5, and 36 tons of vital medical supplies arrived in Lviv, from where they are being distributed to health centers across the country. On March 8, the WHO delivered 10 tons of emergency surgery and trauma kits to kyiv, which will be distributed in warehouses in 7 regions: kyiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Zaporizhia, Zhytomyr and Cherkasy.
From March 9 to 11, 9 shipments of 10 tons each were sent to Kharkiv via Poltava; to Sumy via Poltava; to Dnipro; to Kherson via Dnipro; to Mariupol via Dnipro; to Mykolayiv; to Zhytomyr; to Zaporizhia; and to Cherkassy. Each shipment cares for 150 injury patients and 15,000 primary care patients for 3 months.
On March 12, 2 ventilators were delivered to hospitals in Kyev and 14 tons or 52 cubic meters of trauma kits and essential medicines for primary health care arrived in Lviv.
All supplies are distributed "in close coordination" with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. The WHO has advanced "there will be a steady flow of medical supplies in the coming days and weeks, as part of an effort to ensure the population’s access to essential medicines and medical care".
To support operations in and within Ukraine, a WHO support center is also being established in Poland. WHO has also expanded surveillance and dissemination of health information to detect and respond to outbreaks early and better understand the needs, threats and availability of health services.
