The Ministry of Health and UNICEF agreed on strategic areas of cooperation

Viktor Liashko, the Minister of Health, together with his deputies met with Murat Shahin, head of the UNICEF representative office in Ukraine, and his team to discuss strategic areas of cooperation for 2023.

The minister thanked his colleagues from UNICEF for their comprehensive support to the healthcare sector. What is meant here is, in particular, about humanitarian aid, the supply of generators and modular boiler houses, projects to support mental health, the purchase of vaccines for routine vaccinations and cold equipment for their storage, etc.

“Once again, I thank UNICEF in Ukraine for its reliable support shoulder and constructive cooperation. The last year has forced us to work in extremely difficult conditions. If it were not for your regular help and constant response to our requests, we would hardly be able to keep the medical front at the level at which we manage it now. However, even in the conditions of war, we must focus not only on the current challenges, no matter how complex they may be, but also on the future: work for the development of the healthcare system, solve systemic problems in order for Ukrainians to receive really high-quality, affordable and free medical care and preventive services,” Viktor Liashko stressed.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for many years of fruitful cooperation. UNICEF continues to actively support the national health system in both humanitarian response and development and recovery strategies. Among our priorities is the expansion of the home patronage program for families with children under 3 years of age, because the first thousand days of life are a golden time for creating conditions for the development of the maximum potential of the child, identifying possible risks, and parents' mental health,” Murat Shahin said.

The participants also discussed strategic areas of joint work for 2023:

• vaccination program. According to the results of 2022, we observe that the level of vaccination coverage in Ukraine remains below the recommended level by the World Health Organization. It is planned to implement joint measures aimed at increasing the level of vaccination of children; 
• project of patronage visits to pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy and families with children under 3 years of age. The project design and financing model are currently being developed. Given the military actions that led to a certain complication of access to medical care, the project becomes particularly relevant in terms of maternal and child health;
• the sphere of mental health. UNICEF intends to join initiatives within the framework of the implementation of the all-Ukrainian mental health program initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska related to providing high-quality psychological assistance to children and mothers;
• support the capacity of medical institutions for children. Because of the war, many children left Ukraine, which led, accordingly, to a decrease in the number of hospital visits, and therefore their funding. However, we must look ahead and work together with international partners to develop anti-crisis steps to support hospitals and not lose pediatricians who treat our children.

It should be recalled that UNICEF and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine are implementing a universally progressive model of home visits, which is designed to improve the availability and quality of medical and social services for families with children aged 0 to 3 years.