Mobile teams specializing in sexual and reproductive health
Mobile gynecological teams operate as part of the humanitarian response of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union, the governments of Spain, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Austria.
Project geography: A total of 28 mobile gynecological teams operate in 23 regions of Ukraine. With the support of the CO “100% Life” – in 12 regions.
Objective:
The mobile gynecological teams were created to facilitate access to medical care for residents of remote parts of Ukraine: local residents, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and victims of gender-based and sexual violence.
Mobile gynecological teams are an opportunity for patients from the most remote areas to receive quality medical care free of charge, including:
– gynecological examinations
– reproductive health consultations
– family planning consultations and contraceptive recommendations
– ultrasound examinations
– electrocardiogram
– cytology
– rapid testing for hepatitis B, C, and HIV.
If the patient or patients need additional examination or hospitalization, doctors refer them to specialized medical institutions or specialized specialists.
RESULTS OF THE PROJECT
(20.09.2022 – FEBRUARY 2025)
✔ 14 mobile teams of professional teams of healthcare workers (doctors, obstetricians, paramedics, nurses) work in difficult conditions, providing access to medical services.
✔ 98,636 patients have received help (almost 100,000 patients have received help from mobile team specialists over the 2 years of the project)
92% – women, 8% – men
95% – adults, 5% – children
Note: The patients of the mobile teams include men and children, as there are visits when the team includes a general practitioner, pediatrician, or other specialist.
Due to the fact that mobile gynecological teams operate on the basis of state medical institutions, the referral system functions smoothly.
✔ 339,197 consultations provided. The highest number of consultations was in the following regions:
Dnipro – 74,148
Kharkiv – 51,884
Kirovohrad – 41,580
70% of patients’ diagnoses were made by mobile team doctors for the first time.
✔ 500,000 kilometers were traveled to provide help where it is most needed.
Main challenges and peculiarities of the teams’ work:
✔ Lack of transportation for residents
✔ Work in difficult conditions – power outages during appointments, bad roads, lack of transportation for residents, etc.
✔ Medical specialists provide not only gynecological care, but also consult on other medical issues.
Residents of remote villages have limited access to medical care, which leads to late diagnosis of serious diseases.
✔ Many precancerous conditions have been detected that went unnoticed due to lack of access to healthcare.
Project impact and new opportunities due to the project:
- Detection of severe pathologies and referral of patients for specialized treatment.
Additional equipment: an ultrasound machine with a full set of sensors.
Conducting rapid tests for hepatitis, HIV, and other diseases.
Organization of further treatment of patients in district centers and the regional hospital.
