Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Health promotion and disease prevention are among the sustainable and long-term activities of the Ukrainian Red Cross. This includes raising awareness about health promotion and prevention of the most common diseases among the Ukrainian population. The main goal is to create favourable conditions for improving people’s quality of life and encourage communities to actively participate in addressing health issues.
For more than 100 years, the Ukrainian Red Cross has been educating various groups of the population about the importance of taking care of their own health. Since its founding in the 1920s, the organisation has fought epidemics such as typhus and smallpox by promoting vaccinations and distributing informational materials.
Map of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Efforts and Number of Services Provided Since 2023:
Main Areas of Activity
Since the beginning of 2023, the Ukrainian Red Cross has been implementing a new project, “Strengthening Community Health”, which aims to develop individuals’ skills in managing their own health on a daily basis. The project focuses on informing people about the following:
Programmes to combat tuberculosis and HIV infection as prioritised areas of state policy in the fields of healthcare and social development. Raising awareness about prevention and providing support for patients. HIV/AIDS | Public Health Centre
During the pandemic, the organisation mobilised resources to raise awareness about the coronavirus, conduct vaccination campaigns, and distribute information materials. Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) | Public Health Centre
Programmes to promote physical activity and healthy eating habits among the population.
Programmes aimed at raising public awareness of the risks and prevention of non-communicable diseases.
Raising public awareness of the risks and prevention of infectious diseases.
A programme aimed at raising awareness of blood donation, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine. Participation in the programme not only saves lives but also supports the country’s healthcare system.
Our volunteers conduct information campaigns on blood donation, the donation process, and the use of blood in medical facilities. Through these efforts, we aim to increase the number of donors and raise public awareness of the importance of blood donation in Ukraine.
Raising awareness among the population about the importance of immunisation. This includes information campaigns, seminars, and consultations to explain how vaccines protect against dangerous infectious diseases. Our volunteers work within communities to provide access to reliable information about vaccination schedules, the benefits of vaccination, and the risks of not being vaccinated.
Motivational Interviewing
The Ukrainian Red Cross has been providing training in health promotion and disease prevention since 2023. In its first year of operation, 36 qualified community health promotion consultants were trained and are now conducting training sessions in the Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, and Odesa regions. Over 600 people have participated in motivational interviews, receiving valuable information and support on healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and health promotion.
As part of the activity, volunteers:
- Teach basic healthcare skills, such as measuring blood pressure, monitoring one’s own health, developing a habit of regular physical activity, and maintaining a balanced diet.
- Provide information on a healthy lifestyle, its components, and healthy behavioural habits.
- Conduct motivational interviews with community members who need support in changing their behavioural habits and improving their health, for example, by quitting smoking or adopting a healthier diet.
- Provide information on the most common non-communicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes), their risk factors, and prevention methods.
- Disseminate information about dangerous infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, HIV, viral hepatitis), their transmission routes, and methods of prevention.