SILENT PANDEMIC – TACKLING NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN UKRAINE

On 2 March 2021, the Ukrainian Public Health Centre and the project “Reducing Risk Factors for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in Ukraine” funded by the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

This large long-term investment by SDC aims at reducing NCDs in Ukraine through an integrated, life-course, and multidisciplinary approach by focusing on promoting a healthy diet, physical activity, reduced alcohol consumption, and tobacco use cessation. These are simple and cost-effective measures to reduce premature death and disability caused by NCDs.

Started in November 2020, the project is targeting the regions L’viv, Poltava, Kherson, Rivne, and Dnepropetrovsk while offering access to several project activities to participants from Lugansk and Donetsk. The aim of this four years project is to strengthen the national and regional public health authorities, and the capacities of primary healthcare providers and communities in order to tackle NCDs burden in Ukraine. By supporting the National Public Health Centre of Ukraine, the NCD project intends to create synergies with the GFA-led Public Health project funded by the European Union. This will enable both projects to join forces and support the Ukraine in modernizing its public health system.

A close collaboration with Acting for Health, the Ministry of Health, and various local and international stakeholders such as WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and academic institutions across the country is expected. More information can be retrieved at on facebook or by contacting the project team leader, Dr. Juma Khudonazarov.

Project in brief