EU and UNFPA procured and delivered 880 female hygenic kits to healthcare workers of six hospitals assigned to provide treatment to patients with COVID-19 in Volyn region: Volyn Regional Hospital, Volyn Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Area Territorial Medical Unit of Kovelska City Council, Liubomlske Territorial Medical Unit of Liubomlska Rayon Council, Kamin-Kashyrska Central Area Hospital, Medical Unit of Lutsk City Territorial Community.
Furthermore, under the “WE ACT: Women Empowerment Action” programme UNFPA and EU provide female hygenic kits to COVID-19 hospitals of other regions of Ukraine: 11 Luhansk and Cherkasy region hospitals have already received the hygienic kits.
“Every day, medical teams who are at the frontline of the COVID-19 respond, save lives of Ukrainians, sometimes working two-three shifts in a row, sleeping at the workplace, in hospitals, in personal protective equipment (PPE). The majority of COVID-workers are women. It is crucial for every person, every woman, to have the ability and means to maintain a high level of personal hygiene, even while working in difficult circumstances of the pandemic. That is why the WE ACT programme provides female healthcare workers with hygenic kits to support them in mitigating the negative impact of long shifts in PPE on their sexual and reproductive health.” - noted Tetiana Shulha, sector manager and gender focal point at the European Union Delegation to Ukraine.
“Hygenic kits consist of personal hygiene products - deodorants, body cleansers, pads, tampons, underwear, and other essential items. The Programme provides products necessary for maintaining personal hygiene during exhausting work shifts of medical personnel,” - said Maksym Liushan, WE ACT programme coordinator, UNFPA Ukraine.
The results of UNFPA’s 2020 needs assessment of medical staff working with COVID-19 patients highlight the need for women medical workers to keep additional personal hygiene products at the hospital since the prolonged wearing of protective suits exacerbates further discomfort and often makes impossible timely hygienic care, especially when menstruating. That said, providing female doctors and nurses with hygenic kits will contribute to greater comfort in the workplace and reduce possible cases of gender discrimination.
Background information:
EU and UNFPA join their efforts to provide gender-responsive emergency support to address the COVID-19 aftermath and strengthen gender equality in Ukraine within the flagship programme ‘WE ACT: Women Empowerment Action.’ The Programme aims to protect women from gender-based violence, remove barriers for women’s leadership and support female medical workers on the frontlines COVID-19 response. More about the Programme.
