The Health Crisis in Ukraine
Four months of war leaves a health crisis in Ukraine and its healthcare system strained to provide proper healthcare to the citizens. As many healthcare facilities are destroyed and many more are overwhelmed with the number of patients, healthcare workers work long hours treat patients from short-term to long-term illnesses and injuries.
“This war has gone on for 100 days too many,” World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “shattering lives and communities, and imperiling the short- and long-term health of Ukraine’s people.”
HIV
The HIV virus affects the immune system and leads to AIDS if untreated. Even before the war started, Ukraine suffered an epidemic of HIV with an estimated 250,000 people with HIV. Many of these people do not realize they have HIV. HIV is more common among people who struggle with drug addiction and sex workers – people living on the marginalized side of society.
USAID provides support and services to treat people with HIV. However, with the ongoing war and the health crisis in Ukraine, patients cannot get tested for HIV or receive the proper treatment.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease in the lungs. In 2019, about 27% of TB cases involve drug use. Meanwhile, only 76% of patients receive successful treatment for the disease. Many patients do not finish their treatment or receive treatment too late. Additionally, some TB victims do not become sick.
Because of the war and the COVID-19 pandemic, detecting TB dropped. TB is one of the leading causes of death from HIV patients, and because of the health crisis in Ukraine, TB can spread easily and cause more deaths.
Polio
Like with HIV, Ukraine experienced an outbreak of polio before the Russian invasion. Polio is a virus that affects the spinal cord that can lead to paralysis or even death. Children under the age of five are especially vulnerable to the virus.
Vaccination is possible, but the Russian invasion interrupted a campaign to vaccinate children against the virus. Even so, vaccination rates for polio are under 50% in Ukraine. Areas like Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, have struggled combating polio due to a lack of vaccination.
World Health Organization Increases Its Presence
Because of the health crisis in Ukraine, WHO increases its presence in Ukraine and in countries with refugees. Since the start of the war, Ukraine confirmed over 260 attacks on their healthcare system as of June 3, 2022.
“WHO is doing everything we can to support Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and deliver essential medical supplies and equipment,” Ghebreyesus said. “But the one medicine that Ukraine needs most is the one that WHO can’t deliver – peace. We call on the Russian Federation to end the war.”
To meet the needs of the health crisis in Ukraine, WHO appealed to the U.S. of $147.5 million. WHO wants to use $80 million to provide support to the people still in Ukraine and an additional $67.5 million to support countries with refugees.
Even though Ukraine is experiencing a health crisis as a result from the Russian invasion, international organizations like WHO provides medical support while also advocating for monetary support to the U.S. government.
