1. project Background

The ongoing Russian invasion has devastated Ukraine's healthcare infrastructure, with over 2,680 health facilities damaged or destroyed and civilian medical transport deliberately targeted. The Sumy Oblast, in particular, faces a severe humanitarian and medical crisis. Since the spring of 2026, rural communities located 5 to 20 kilometers from the frontline have been subjected to escalating bombardments and drone attacks, pushing the region toward an energy blackout and forcing mass evacuations.
These attacks have created a "medical desert" in rural Sumy. Specialists have fled or been conscripted, leaving isolated populations without adequate care. Additionally, the withdrawal of international NGO funding has left a critical gap in medical assistance. Against this backdrop, Ukraine is battling a severe epidemiological crisis:
1. HIV/AIDS: The war has severely disrupted testing and treatment (only 57% of patients are on antiretroviral therapy). Disrupted infrastructure and displacement are causing late diagnoses and increased transmission risks.2. Vulnerability & Trauma: There is a surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), domestic violence, and trauma-related behavioral disorders, particularly among veterans and displaced persons. There is also an urgent need to support victims of wartime rape and gender-based violence (GBV).
Currently, only a single UNFPA mobile unit operates in the area, which lacks the capacity to cover the vast, high-risk geographical footprint of the Sumy region.

2. Concept and objective

Concept:To address these critical gaps, the project will deploy a specialized Mobile Gynecological Clinic (Sexual and Reproductive Health Mobile Medical Unit) to serve approximately 100 isolated rural communities in the Sumy Raion. The mobile unit, provided in partnership with Sumy Hospital No. 5 (Saint Pantelemon), will be staffed by a gynecologist, an ultrasound specialist, and a nurse/midwife.
Objectives:The overarching goal is to deliver life-saving sexual and reproductive healthcare to vulnerable rural populations, targeting an estimated 1,500 direct and 4,500 indirect beneficiaries.
Specific objectives include:1. Gynecological Care & Screening: Providing rural women (especially those over 55) with quality care, including early screening for breast and cervical cancers, cysts, and infections.2. HIV & STI Prevention: Expanding access to contraception, STI/HIV testing, and ensuring referrals to antiretroviral treatment.3. Mental Health & GBV Support: Providing psychological support for vulnerable individuals (veterans with PTSD, HIV patients) and combating domestic, sexual, and wartime violence, as well as discrimination against marginalized groups.