The WHO Country Office in Ukraine, with European Union (EU) support, has donated 26 cars to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to help strengthen vaccination efforts across the country during the war and beyond.
The off-road vehicles will be used by the Public Health Centre of Ukraine (UPHC) and regional Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to help manage immunization programmes, conduct vaccine-preventable disease surveillance at the regional level, and to perform monitoring and supportive supervision visits and outbreak investigations. One of the critical advantages of these cars will be the capability to reach rural and remote areas.
Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine said: “WHO in Ukraine will continue supporting immunization efforts and help the country to increase vaccination coverage. The purpose of this donation is to strengthen regional capacities on preparedness and response to communicable diseases and outbreaks. Our common goal with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and partners is to help regional Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention to successfully implement their functions within the national immunization programme and prevent outbreaks. This support from WHO and the EU will help the country achieve this goal”.
Speaking during the handover of the cars in Lviv region, by representatives of WHO, Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health, said: “The full-scale war has presented many challenges to our medical system. Despite this, we are working to ensure that every Ukrainian has uninterrupted access to vaccination. I call on all Ukrainians to adhere to the National Vaccination Calendar. After all, vaccination is a way to take care of your health and the health of your children. We are grateful to our partners for these vehicles, which will allow access to rural and remote areas to manage the delivery of vaccination services to vulnerable groups. The cars received and the equipment purchased last year bring closer the full-fledged realization of specialized anti-epidemic teams in the Centres, which will ensure an adequate response to epidemic challenges”.
The WHO Country Office in Ukraine supports the national immunization programme in partnership with the EU. This includes strengthening programme capacities at national and regional levels, and providing technical and operational support to eliminate inequities in vaccine coverage and extend population access to services. It also encompasses informational support for vaccination campaigns to prevent further large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases. WHO shares recommendations and technical guidance, conducts trainings for immunization programme specialists and health-care workers, provides consumables and assists in the delivery of vaccines to Ukraine as part of the international vaccine initiative, COVAX.
During this difficult time of full-fledged Russian invasion, the public health sector is one of the public policy priorities in EU–Ukraine cooperation. The EU supports Ukraine in strengthening its immunization efforts – especially linked to fighting COVID-19, which remains a serious health threat. The donated cars will help build additional capacity for regional Centres and thus support the vaccination campaigns.
Financial support for the vehicles has been provided by the EU’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations. The procurement took place under EU support for COVID-19 vaccine deployment within the Eastern Partnership.