UNFPA Ukraine provided assistance to 15 geriatric facilities located in the six Oblasts of Ukraine most affected by the COVID-19. Those were Lviv, Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Odesa and Chernivtsi Oblasts.

“Elderly people living in care homes are often ignored and left out, and are therefore one of the most vulnerable populations. At the same time, they suffer greatly from the pandemic, as they are at increased risk of infection. People over seventy are 20 times more likely to be hospitalized, and the complication and mortality rates are much higher after the age of 60. In the USA in particular, a third of COVID-19 deaths were registered among residents and staff of geriatric facilities. We couldn’t ignore it, so we provided assistance to 15 geriatric facilities in Ukraine with 2,094 elderly persons and members of staff”, said Bohdan Pidverbetsky, UNFPA Reproductive Health Coordinator.

In December, UNFPA Ukraine procured personal protective equipment, disinfectants and cleaning products for 15 geriatric facilities under the UNFPA Ukraine Project ‘Improving COVID-19 readiness and response capacity of geriatric homes/care homes in the six Oblasts of Ukraine most affected by COVID-19’. Namely, medical masks, gloves, protective shields, suits, antiseptics, floor cleaners, disinfectants, soaps, etc. were procured.

In addition, 20 staff members of care homes and social security departments took part in training in the organization and implementation of the system of infection prevention and infection control in social security facilities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, UNFPA Ukraine distributed information brochures for geriatric facilities’ staff and the elderly among 15 geriatric facilities.

The procurement of kits was funded by UNFPA with financial support of donors, in particular, Germany.