WHO donates ambulances to Ukraine to support emergency health needs amid the war
24 January 2023
Lviv, 23 January 2023 - WHO in Ukraine has donated 26 ambulances to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to enable the provision of emergency medical care to patients during the war.
Lviv, Ukraine, January 2023
“With continuous attacks on health care in Ukraine, WHO supports Ukraine’s healthcare system during the war and delivers life-saving medical supplies and equipment in coordination with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and other partners,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
“These ambulances will help save lives and bring vital care to people in Ukraine amid the war.”
The donation includes 6 patient transport ambulances and 20 mobile intensive care unit ambulances, equipped with oxygen tanks, defibrillators, transport ventilators and other medical devices, allowing transportation of seriously injured patients to health facilities.
Since 24 February 2022, more than 30 ambulances have been donated to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine by WHO and its partners. More ambulances are set to be delivered later this year.
Dr Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine, noted: “Every single day war brings new challenges to our life and work, we all faced lots of losses and destructions, but our main task remains the same - to take care of people's health. I’m sincerely grateful to the World Health Organization for their significant help and comprehensive support. Thanks to our joint efforts, Ukrainian medical system continues to work. Today these ambulances start saving lives of Ukrainians.”
The delivery was made possible with funding from the European Union.
“Hundreds of healthcare facilities have been destroyed since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Together with humanitarian partners like WHO and in close coordination with the Ukrainian government, we support the healthcare system so that the Ukrainian healthcare workers can continue saving lives across the country,” said Claudia Amaral, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine.
WHO has delivered more than 2000 metric tonnes of life-saving medical supplies to Ukraine since the war began. Deliveries include power generators, ambulances, oxygen supplies for medical facilities, supplies for trauma and emergency surgeries, and medicines to help treat noncommunicable diseases and more.
Media inquiries:
Rayyan Sabet-Parry, Communication Officer, WHO Ukraine, rsabetparry@who.int
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