WHO has confirmed 16 reports of attacks by Russians on medical facilities in Ukraine

Catherine Smallwood, a senior emergency officer at the WHO's regional office for Europe, said at the conference that the WHO had verified 16 attacks on medical infrastructure in Ukraine, which killed 9 and injured 16 people. She said attacks took place in different directions of the attack and on hospitals in different cities, including Zhytomyr in the northwest, Wuhłedar near Mariupol in the southwest, and Kharkiv in the northeast.

Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, outlined the three WHO priorities in divisions for Ukraine:

1. Provision of medical supplies.

"Essential life-saving drugs such as oxygen and insulin, personal protective equipment, surgical supplies, anesthetics and safe blood products are lacking," he warned.

“So far, two shipments of a total weight of 76 tons of trauma and rescue goods, as well as freezers, refrigerators, ice packs and refrigerators have been in transit via Ukraine. We have another shipment of 500 oxygen concentrators and more deliveries are on the way. ”

1. Assistance in equipping Ukraine's neighboring countries with infrastructure and expertise to meet the urgent health needs of people coming from Ukraine.

"WHO has deployed expert teams in Hungary, Poland, the Republic of Moldova and Romania, and is working closely with relevant governments, authorities and partners to assess the needs of incoming refugees."

1. Support for medical services in Ukraine through training and mobilization of medical teams.

Kluge pointed out that, due to broken lines of supply, ensuring the continuity of care for people with long-term health needs is a major challenge.

Among the priorities of WHO's activities is the restoration and maintenance of vaccination programs, tuberculosis and HIV treatment and psychiatric care: "We are working to support these basic medical needs through fixed facilities and field hospitals or mobile health services, and by providing key diagnostics, drugs and medical supplies" Kluge added.

Kluge added that Ukraine reported 731 deaths from Covid-19 last week. "Unfortunately, this number will increase as oxygen shortages persist," he said.

In addition, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that 80,000 women in Ukraine will give birth without access to intensive maternity care in the next three months.