WHO-supported emergency medical teams (EMTs) are working in newly regained areas in Ukraine due to severe disruptions to health services caused by attacks during the Russian Federation’s invasion.
Since the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine began 9 months ago, attacks on health facilities have severely disrupted services and left a trail of devastation.
WHO-supported emergency medical teams (EMTs), working in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Center for Disaster Medicine, have been on the ground delivering acute trauma care and primary health care to people in newly regained
regions, including Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv.
Fully trained and equipped with medical supplies, the EMTs - which include a doctor, two nurses and a driver - respond to immediate health needs from their armoured vehicles.
Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, said: “National EMTs working in newly regained areas ensure that access to critical health care can continue amid the war. Seven EMTs have been deployed to various regions throughout the country,
and the goal is to prepare up to 25 EMTs who can respond to acute health needs within a 12- to 24-hour period as needed.
“In this regard, WHO is helping deliver training, medicines, ambulances and other supplies to assist with the response. We are grateful to our national and international partners for their ongoing support in this challenging situation.”
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO designed the national EMT project in line with WHO global guidelines and standards. Six hubs will be established throughout Ukraine to ensure an optimal referral system is in place for patients. They will
also be used to evacuate those with severe and specialist health needs that cannot be met within Ukraine.
Financial support for the EMT project has been received from the German Federal Ministry of Health. Her Excellency Ms Anka Feldhusen, Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine, said: “Germany is one of the largest donors among Member States, both in terms
of compulsory and voluntary contributions to WHO. We greatly appreciate the commitment and expertise of the WHO experts here in Ukraine, especially during wartime. I am very pleased that the Federal Ministry of Health supports emergency medical teams
in newly regained regions, responding to acute and primary health needs of the people and thus helping them to cope with the personal aftermath of occupation and continuing Russian attacks.”
Ms Feldhusen added: “In 2022, the German Government provided WHO with funding in the amount of 17 million euros for the implementation of the project ‘Health emergency response in Ukraine and neighbouring countries’, aimed among other
things at ensuring access of Ukrainians to basic medical services and restoration of hospitals.”
Placeholder: As these are cities as well as regions, to check with WHO if they are giving health in whole region or more the cities and amend if necessary. ‘Areas’ a good catchall
