EU and UNFPA procured and delivered 682 female sanitary kits for female healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 response to 7 hospitals assigned to provide hospital treatment to patients with COVID-19 in Cherkaska oblast: Cherkaska City Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Umanska City Hospital of Uman City Council, Zolotoniska Central Rayon Hospital, Korsun-Shevchenkivska Multipurpose Hospital of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi City Council, First Cherkaska City Hospital, Smilianska City Hospital of Smila City Council, Cherkaska Central Rayon Hospital of Cherksaka Rayon Council.
Also, within the framework of “WE ACT: Women Empowerment Action” programme it is planned to provide female sanitary kits to hospitals responders to COVID-19 at the other regions of Ukraine. Thus, 4 assigned to COVID-19 response hospitals of Luhans'ka oblast have already received kits in September.
“Everyday, 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 extremely important 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 sanitary 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.
“Sanitary kits consist of personal hygiene products - deodorants, body cleansers, pads, tampons, underwear, etc. The programme provides with products necessary for maintaining personal hygiene during exhausting work shifts of medical personnel. ” - said Maksym Liushan, WE ACT programme coordinator, UNFPA Ukraine
According to a needs assessment of medical staff in connection with COVID-19, conducted by UNFPA Ukraine in 2020, it is women who most often need additional personal hygiene products, because prolonged wearing of protective suits exacerbates additional discomfort and often makes impossible timely hygienic care, especially under menstruation time, etc. That is why providing female doctors and nurses with such kits will contribute to greater comfort in the workplace, reduce possible cases of gender discrimination etc.
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 flagman programme ‘WE ACT: Women Empowerment Action’. The Programme is aimed to protect women from gender-based violence (GBV), remove barriers for women’s leadership and support female frontline healthcare responders to COVID-19. More about the Programme.
