More than 40,600 people in Ukraine have taken part in the Ukrainian Red Cross Health Promotion and Disease Prevention activities since the beginning of the year

Amid ongoing stress and uncertainty, looking after their own health and their family’s well-being has become a necessity for many people in Ukraine.

To support the population, the Ukrainian Red Cross Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programme is steadily expanding its reach. The programme aims to improve quality of life, promote healthy lifestyles, raise awareness about preventing common illnesses, and reduce the stigma around seeking medical care.

Since the beginning of this year, 40,604 people have taken part in 11,682 events. These included informational and practical sessions, motivational interviews for those seeking to change their lifestyle, as well as blood donation initiatives. The most frequently covered topics were “Healthy Lifestyle” and “Physical Activity”, each delivered in 1,254 sessions, followed by “Blood Pressure Measurement”, with 873 sessions. Overall, key themes such as balanced nutrition, healthy living, prevention of common non-communicable diseases (such as cardiovascular conditions and diabetes), infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, hepatitis, and COVID-19), and the rejection of harmful habits were addressed.

The Ukrainian Red Cross is currently implementing this programme across the Kirovohrad, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Ternopil, and Poltava regions. The initiative is supported by trusted partners, including the Danish Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, German Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, French Red Cross, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

These activities are a powerful reminder that health begins with each of us!