Message from Peter Navario
Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Health Policy and Management
Executive Director, HealthRight International
I’m pleased to share the field report below from HealthRight's Ukrainian Country Director, Halyna Skipalska, which provides a local perspective on the deeply troubling circumstances from Kiev. Just today she reported shelling in towns along the conflict line in eastern Ukraine.
HealthRight has operated in Ukraine since 2005; we currently have 119 staff (all Ukrainian nationals) with projects in every region, working to improve access to quality healthcare for people living with HIV, people who use drugs, incarcerated populations, and those affected by violence, including internally displaced populations.
Of particular importance in this moment is a multi-year project (6+ years) supported by UNFPA, UNICEF and the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, where we've established a nationwide system of mobile teams, safe spaces, online services, and networks of healthcare and other social services to identify, house and care for survivors of violence and trauma. As networks are established we work with the local government to secure the budget, then hand over operations to sustain them.
Since its inception in 2015, the project has reached 20,000 to 25,000 people a year -- the vast majority of whom are women. We still operate 14 networks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (along the eastern conflict line), while 37 have been handed over to local governments.
Please keep our incredible Ukrainian staff in your thoughts during this difficult time!
Message from Halyna Skipalska
HealthRight Country Director for Ukraine
Executive Director of the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health
We in Ukraine greatly appreciate the words of support from the HealthRight headquarters staff and our GPH friends. We fully trust international media and official statements from Ukraine, the U.S. and the U.K. They have the fullest information about the military situation near the border with Russia and Belarus, and on the political level as well.
We all feel an enormous psychological tension these days; however, there are no significant changes to our situation, or in our living conditions in Kyiv and other regions. We hope issues will be diplomatically resolved soon. It will certainly influence Ukraine's economy, the lives and health of its citizens, and the vulnerable groups with whom we work.
Unfortunately, we’re in another COVID-19 wave in Ukraine, and some regions have imposed stricter lockdown restrictions. The virus now has an even more significant impact on our programs and project activities. HealthRight staff in the Kyiv office work remotely, coming into the office once a week. We’ve introduced additional rules of communication and notification in case of emergencies, and I advised the team to work remotely from places where they feel safe. So far, all employees have stayed in Kyiv.
Mobile teams and field staff received guidelines in case of military conflict and hostilities (we stay in touch with all employees). The field staff were provided with first aid kits and PPE. Further actions will be taken according to how the situation develops. We have a request to conduct a webinar on psychological and medical first aid for the staff, and are now discussing this possibility with donors. As of now, we don't have any instructions from donors or the UN on what actions to take in case of hostilities.
Thank you all again for your continued support!