Ukraine: WHO installs a new modular clinic in the Kharkiv region

WHO has opened a new modular primary health-care clinic in the village of Tsyrkuny in the Kharkiv region, replacing a clinic destroyed in an attack earlier this year in nearby Lyptsi.

The clinic is a large, modular primary health-care facility with 4 patient or examination rooms. It will serve internally displaced people who have been evacuated or have fled areas in the region due to intense hostilities. Five health-care workers will staff the clinic, which is fully equipped to operate during power outages.

This is the second modular clinic installed in Tsyrkuny; together, the 2 facilities will serve around 12 000 patients per year in total.

"When the previous modular clinic in Lyptsi was damaged, we responded quickly. Thankfully, everyone was evacuated and no one was harmed in the attack. Our team worked hard to ensure the new facility was ready within 2 months," said Dr Emanuele Bruni, acting WHO Health Emergency Programme Lead, when visiting the new facility.

This project bridges emergency response and early recovery, with the modular units fully integrated into Ukraine's health system.

"WHO has been investing in modular primary health-care units over the past year to ensure local communities have access to primary health-care services - a fundamental human right," explained Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative and Head of the Country Office in Ukraine.

This clinic is one of 18 WHO-installed modular units being run in regions affected by the war in Ukraine. Each clinic can be set up in 10 to 14 days and is intended to be a long-term solution, with a lifespan of more than 10 years. The units are integrated into Ukraine's health system, contracted by the National Health Service of Ukraine, ensuring a sustainable solution.

The unit's installation was made possible with the support of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO).