Within the scope of German-Ukrainian cooperation, USIF and KfW have signed further Financial and Project Agreements for a grant of EUR 14.45m to finance the implementation of the new “Improvement of Rural Basic Health Project” (USIF VII). Phase VII of the Project is scheduled to be completed by 30.04.2023. m4h acts as International Consultant (IC) and sub-contracted m4eco for some services for this project.
The project’s main objective is to contribute to the strengthening of primary health care at selected locations in Eastern Ukraine. That will be accomplished through patient-friendly and energy-efficient renovation of infrastructure and the provision of medical equipment at selected project locations in the five targeted oblasts.
As in the previous phases of this project, there will be immediate and indirect benefits for internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled the military clashes between the Ukrainian government and armed separatists due to the improvement and rehabilitation of existing social infrastructure in the Project region.
Implementation of Phase VII focuses on the oblasts of Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporyzhzhya and territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts controlled by the Ukrainian government (Project region) – with a total population of some 5.8 million.
The project itself will have three distinct yet interrelated components:
Component 1: Infrastructure Component: Around 40 primary health care facilities (SPs) are to be rehabilitated and fully utilised by the end of the project, i.e. by 30.04.2023. That will be done mainly in cooperation with SIPs, set up by interested communities and supported by local / self-government authorities for initiation, planning and execution of individual sub-projects – in line with the project’s specifics as outlined in USIF’s “Operations Manual” (OM).
Component 2: Training Measures for Stakeholders: Intensive training shall be provided for USIF-staff, medical doctors and staff of beneficiary communities, local / self-government authorities, and others, in respect of energy efficiency of buildings and spaces as well as the maintenance of infrastructure as well as the administration and management of health care services at a local level.
Component 3: Procurement Furniture and Medical Equipment: All rehabilitated primary health facilities must be fully furnished and equipped with modern and appropriate medical instruments and equipment and basic medicinal provisions – as per valid Ukrainian norms and regulations.
m4eco provided support in this project through:
- Assistance in developing the ESMF (Environmental and Social Management Framework);
- Assistance in supervising the implementation of / adherence to the SPs’ Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs);