Kyiv, 4 November 2022 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with the financial support of the European Union, procured and delivered 14 automatic external defibrillators to health clinics in Sumy, Chernihiv, Kamianske of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Voznesensk of Mykolaiv Oblast, Nova Vodolaha, Pervomaisk and Lozova of Kharkiv Oblast.

A defibrillator is a small device that plays a large role in helping save the lives of people experiencing a heart attack. With the financial support from the European Union, UNDP also provided specialized training to more than a hundred medical workers on using the life-saving devices.

Frederik Coene, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said Russia’s war against Ukraine had caused a health crisis, especially in places where there are active hostilities and where there are high populations of internally displaced persons. “In response to new challenges, the EU provides the necessary tools to help people survive and recover from injuries,” he said. “In particular, we want to direct our support to those areas where needs are greatest and increasing daily."

Christophoros Politis, interim UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, noted that it was absolutely necessary to continue providing the front-line medical personnel with proper equipment and training so as to continue delivering on their mission and addressing emergencies. He commented that "the defibrillators are very specialised equipment that save lives.  Training health workers on this type of equipment does not only have an immediate effect, it contributes to the mid to long term development of capacities and skills in the health sector,” he added. “Through our strategic partnership with the European Union, we want our support for the health sector to continue recording long-term impact with an institutional strengthening focus.”

Background

The United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP) is being implemented by four United Nations agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Eleven international partners support the Programme: The European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org