UKRAINIAN CRISIS

In April 2015, MdM was working in the Oblast of Luhansk and oriented its work towards access to care and treatment, especially for the most vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases. From 2015 to 2017, MdM deployed mobile clinics in areas close to the frontline, providing direct access to primary healthcare (including mental health and gender-based violence support) as well as skill-building and gifting equipment for the existing healthcare facilities.

During the summer of 2022, in response to the resumption of conflict and massive displacements of population coming from eastern Ukraine, MdM started working in the bordering countries to address the influx of refugees in southern Ukraine (Odessa and Mykolaiv oblasts). Teams have conducted assessments and launched an emergency response.

Since 1 October 2022, MdM supports the Ukrainian Red Cross in Mykolaiv to render operational a clinic providing ambulatory care in the city of Mykolaiv, and deployed mobile clinics to ensure access to healthcare for the hosting and internally displaced populations which are provided shelter inside the city in collective centres, as well as in rural areas severely affected by the lack of doctors.

MdM has also established an office with a coordination team in Odessa in November 2022 and continues to provide technical, material and financial support for the relevant projects.

MdM started organising mental health and promotion of health activities in response to the influx of Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. Teams have developed a progressive approach to launch and expand health promotion and MHPSS activities. Initially, our teams implemented capacity building activities and psychological first aid training for healthcare professionals and volunteers. Then, we delivered psychosocial support activities for healthcare professionals, volunteers and people arriving from Ukraine. Finally, we provided health promotion sessions for refugees in reception centres and camps in partnership with Terre des Hommes.

For the second phase of the project – and after a large-scale assessment conducted in the summer of 2022 by the Ministry of Health – the WHO and MdM implemented primary healthcare activities in health facilities with the largest refugee population and provided medicine according to patients’ requirements.

In addition, capacity building for volunteers in medical universities relating to preparing and managing crisis conducted by the trainer of trainees is planned in 2023.