During September-October 2021, EU and UNFPA procured and delivered 2283 female hygenic kits to healthcare workers of 16 hospitals assigned to provide treatment to patients with COVID-19 in Zaporizhzhia, Mykolayiv and Sumy regions:
- Zaporizhzhia Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases
- Berdiansk Territorial Medical Unit
- Zaporizhzhia City Hospital #9
- Zaporizhzhia City Hospital #7
- Dniprorudne City Hospital
- Melytopol City Hospital for Intense and Rapid Treatment
- Mykolayiv Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases
- Pervomaisk Central Area Hospital
- Mykolayiv City Hospital #5
- Novyi Buh City Hospital
- Voznesensk City Hospital
- Sumy Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Dermatology
- Sumy City Hospital #5
- Shostka Central Area Hospital
- Konotop Central Area Hospital in the name of academic Davydov
- Romny Central Area Hospital
Furthermore, under the “WE ACT: Women Empowerment Action” programme UNFPA and EU will provide female hygenic kits to COVID-19 hospitals of other regions of Ukraine: 17 hospitals of Volyn, Luhansk and Cherkasy regions have already received the hygienic kits.
“Considering the highest level of epidemiological threat in Zaporizhzhia, Mykolayiv, and Sumy regions, medical teams are working tiring and exhausting shifts to save as many Ukrainians as possible. Most COVID-team workers are women who sometimes have to sleep at their workplace, in hospitals, in personal protective equipment (PPE). During this period, it is necessary to provide female medical workers with essential items for maintaining a high level of personal hygiene. One of the main goals of the WE ACT programme is to minimize the negative impact of constantly working in PPE on sexual and reproductive health. To do this, EU and UNFPA deliver hygienic kits to female medical workers of seven oblasts of Ukraine,” 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. Through the delivery of the kits, the Programme aims to facilitate access of female medical workers to hygienic items, so the issues of their availability do not distract women from their critical work,” 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.
For additional information, please contact Alona Zubchenko via zubchenko@unfpa.org.
