WHO-supported emergency medical teams begin work in newly regained areas in Ukraine

Kyiv, 16 December 2022

Health services and facilities in Ukraine have been severely disrupted and damaged due to attacks following the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine 9 months ago.

WHO-supported emergency medical teams (EMTs), working under the auspices of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Center for Disaster Medicine, have been deployed to provide acute trauma care and primary health care to populations in newly regained regions including Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolaiv.

The EMTs include a doctor, 2 nurses, a traumatologist and a driver, and have been fully trained and equipped with medications, consumables and armoured vehicles to respond to health needs. 

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 so that they can respond to acute health needs within a 12- to 24-hour period as needs emerge. In this regard, WHO is providing trainings, medicines, ambulances and other supplies to assist with the response. We are grateful to our national and international partners for their ongoing support.”

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO prepared the design of the national EMT project in line with WHO global guidelines and standards, including for the development of operational procedures.

Six coordination hubs will also be established throughout Ukraine to ensure an optimal referral system for patients and to facilitate medical evacuations outside the country for those with severe health needs.

Financial support for the EMT project has been received from the Germany 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.”

ENDS

For further information or to arrange an interviewe kindly contact Rayyan Sabet-Parry (rsabetparry@who.int)