The institutes of virology and microbiology at Universitätsmedizin Essen and Poltava State Medical University (PSMU) are developing a strategy that will deliver both short- and long-term improvements in infectious disease diagnostics (IDD) in Poltava. The testing and diagnostic procedures comply with European Union standards and are designed to meet local needs. As well as PSMU, the diagnostic measures will benefit Poltava Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases, which specialises in the treatment of viral hepatitis, HIV and various acute infections.\r
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Background: \r
Soon after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, it became clear that the Ukrainian health system also needed support, as part of the wider package of emergency aid, to help it continue providing medical care in the areas of diagnostics, medical training and research. As we know from other conflicts, infectious diseases are one of the greatest threats to health in war-affected regions. In Poltava, the diagnosis and treatment of chronic communicable infections has already had to be cut back to a minimum in order to free up capacity for cases of war trauma. However, tuberculosis, HIV and MRSA resistance, for example, remain a huge medical problem that needs to be addressed efficiently, not only to improve disease care in Ukraine but also to control and prevent the entry of infectious diseases into the health systems of EU countries. \r
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Activities: \r
-\tThree weeks of theoretical and practical training for six people from PSMU and Poltava Regional \r
Hospital for Infectious Diseases (doctors, medical staff and employees of diagnostic and research \r
laboratories) at Essen University Hospital; the training focuses on diagnostic procedures for \r
infectious diseases at the institutes of virology and microbiology \r
-\tOne-week training course for three HIV specialists from Poltava, including an HIV workshop in Essen\r
-\tPurchases of laboratory equipment for diagnostic and research purposes and an annual supply of \r
reagents and consumables for both sites in Poltava\r
-\tFurther training measures in Poltava and Essen\r
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Results: \r
The two sites in Poltava have equipment and diagnostic plans that allow them to diagnose infectious diseases using modern, EU-compatible procedures, as well as reagents to cover their initial needs. Course participants benefit from the newly introduced methods, quality management systems and standard procedures and can implement them in Poltava. This means that a wide range of tests for infectious diseases can be established in Poltava on a sustainable basis and can be applied consistently and efficiently. \r