New modular primary health care clinic opens in Odesa region

A new modular primary health care clinic has officially opened in the village of Chohodarivka, in Ukraine's Odesa region, offering essential health services to more than 1800 people, including children. The facility is fully equipped with electricity, plumbing and sewage systems, and examination rooms, ensuring uninterrupted health-care services. Thanks to its built-in generator, the facility is designed to operate all year, including in winter and during power outages.

The clinic is part of a larger initiative by WHO to bring primary health care to frontline communities in Ukraine, where the war has severely impacted the health system over the past 2.5 years. According to WHO data, 40% of attacks on health care in Ukraine have affected primary care facilities. These modular clinics, built from prefabricated units, provide a quick and long-term solution, with installation taking just 10-14 days, and the ability to function effectively for over 10 years.

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, attended the opening ceremony and highlighted the project's significance. "These modular units are prefabricated and can be rapidly deployed in emergencies. Our latest health needs assessment in Ukraine showed that nearly 1 in 10 households currently lack access to a primary health care facility. We hope that units like this can fill that critical gap in care. I want to particularly acknowledge the dedication of the health-care workers who continue to serve their communities under such challenging circumstances," he said.

"We are working on the rebuilding of medical facilities where it is rational, as well as on quick solutions that allow people to have unhindered access to the necessary health care. In particular, together with WHO, we are implementing a project to install modular primary health care clinics. This solution is temporary, but it can quickly and effectively solve urgent issues of the availability of health care right now," said Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine.

The modular unit in Chohodarivka is one of 17 such clinics currently managed by WHO in the Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Sumy regions. These facilities are staffed by local health-care providers, ensuring continuity of care.

Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative and Head of the Country Office in Ukraine, emphasized the importance of these clinics as part of Ukraine's health system. "These modular units not only quickly replace damaged or abandoned outpatient facilities close to affected communities but are integrated into the National Health Service of Ukraine and eHealth systems, ensuring they provide immediate and long-term care solutions," he remarked.

This project bridges emergency response and early recovery, with modular units forming a lasting part of Ukraine's health infrastructure.

This unit in Odesa region was installed thanks to the support of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.