Health workers in Ukraine under pressure, but coping

An international team of WHO experts is continuing its work in Ukraine, investigating on behalf of the Government an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. Since their arrival five days ago, the nine members of the group have established rigorous investigation procedures that will help pinpoint the characteristics of the virus, in order to recommend immediate action and measures to reduce its impact and ultimately limit its spread.

Nearly half the team is in the western region of Lviv, one of the most affected areas, carrying out analysis and research. The rest have remained in the capital, Kyiv, to help with support activities, such as communication, logistics and coordination.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has provided the team in Lviv with clinical notes on more than 100 cases. In addition, these experts have received information on the early fatalities, and interviewed medical staff face to face. By doing this, they hope to be able to confirm that the Ukraine outbreak is similar to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreaks in other countries, particularly by examining factors related to any underlying or chronic health conditions, treatment, and care.

Further, the team’s clinical experts have interviewed health staff in some of the emergency centres in Lviv. After such discussions, one expert said: “Health staff are under enormous pressure, but, contrary to some news reports, they are getting medical supplies and managing as best they can. Morale is high. At the same time, we need to emphasize to health workers the importance of not only protecting patients but also protecting themselves.”

Laboratory networks are integral to any successful response. The WHO team has been able to bring together the country’s laboratory focal points to ensure that procedures for testing and diagnosing pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are streamlined and strengthened.

Making sure the right information gets to the wider public – particularly information on the simple measures that everyone can take to reduce risks – is just one of the tasks of the WHO communications expert. This week, he began working with local partners and United Nations agencies based in Kyiv on a pandemic (H1N1) 2009 publicity drive. This will be one of the biggest Ministry of Health/United Nations health promotion campaigns ever launched in Ukraine. It will include public service announcements (PSAs) for television, radio and the Internet, backed by the distribution of more than 1 million posters, plus an information outreach strategy using trained medical staff to explain what people can do to stop pandemic (H1N1) 2009.