UNFPA Ukraine delivered 280 women’s sanitary kits with personal protective equipment and hygiene products for medical staff involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients to the Oleksandrivska Clinical Hospital in Kyiv. The total weight of the cargo was about 7 tons.

Sanitary kits include toothpaste, hand and face creams, deodorant, slippers, T-shirts, socks, towels, feminine hygiene products, laundry detergent, personal protective equipment, etc.

“In April, we interviewed the staff of infectious disease and intensive care units in COVID-19 “first-wave” health care facilities and identified the need of female medical staff in sanitary and other products in the context of prolonged use of personal protective equipment and contact with disinfectants. Based on survey results, UNFPA formed Women’s Sanitary Kits for medical staff working with COVID-19 patients. Today we are delivering 7 tons of such kits to Kyiv hospitals”, said Bohdan Pidverbetsky, UNFPA Reproductive Health Coordinator.

This cargo will be distributed by the Department of Health of the Kyiv City State Administration among twenty city health care facilities.

“We are grateful for the kits for female medical staff that we received today from UNFPA Ukraine. They contain everything a woman needs. This is especially important for physicians that work with COVID-19 patients around the clock in personal protective equipment and do their best to save others”, said Halyna Zboromyrska, Deputy Director of the Department of Health of the Kyiv City State Administration, Head of Treatment and Prevention Department.

Doctors note that currently the focus is shifted to helping patients, so it is important not to forget about medical staff that need more than just personal protective equipment.

“More than 70% of medical staff are women. And now women are at the forefront. The kits that we received are needed by them every day. Patients continue to come to our hospital and I would like to appeal to the residents of Kyiv asking to take care of their health, follow the quarantine rules and not just rely on doctors”, said Oleh Atamanenko, Deputy Chief Cardiology Physician of the Oleksandrivska Clinical Hospital.

It should be noted that in August 2020, UNFPA procured and delivered 52 kits for staff of 4 Kyiv city facilities.