WHO Country Office
The WHO Country Office in Ukraine was established in June 1994 in Kyiv to support the country’s sustainable health development. The WHO team in Ukraine consists of around 50 professionals who provide technical expertise on health-related matters and build national capacity through policy dialogues, strategic support, technical assistance, service delivery to fill gaps during emergencies, and adaptation of global norms and standards to the national context.
At the global level, WHO is committed to an ambitious 5-year plan, the 13th General Programme of Work (GPW 13) for 2019–2023. At the regional level, the European Programme of Work for 2020–2025, entitled “United action for better health in Europe”, sets out a vision of how WHO/Europe can support Member States in finding actionable solutions to pertinent health issues together and in contributing to the GPW 13’s “triple billion” targets and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In close cooperation with local health authorities and policy-makers, WHO works to strengthen health systems, public health services and public health institutions, and to move towards universal health coverage (UHC), giving all people access to quality health services without fear of financial hardship or impoverishment. In Ukraine, as in all countries, WHO implements the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), which provide a unique global structure for health security.
Together with national health authorities and stakeholders, WHO works to counter the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental disorders, with a focus on addressing risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits.
To address vaccine-preventable diseases in Ukraine, WHO continues to support national immunization systems and vaccine delivery programme planning, and to foster evidence-informed dialogue and capacity development for routine and additional immunization. The Country Office also provides technical assistance in the areas of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
WHO works to prepare for and respond to health emergencies by offering technical guidance, support and coordination in the field. WHO has coordinated the activities of the health response since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. To meet the needs of people living in conflict-affected areas, WHO provides selected medicines and medical equipment for secondary and tertiary care facilities, builds on the potential of health workers, and works to improve the quality of health services and prevent outbreaks of diseases.
The priorities for the Country Office are set out in the biennial collaborative agreement between WHO/Europe and Ukraine. The Office implements the agreement in close collaboration with national institutions and international partner agencies.
