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It’s vital those who’ve fled this brutal war have access to health care. Around 90% of the over 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees registered by the Polish government are women and children. This is a mother-and-child displacement crisis that has put much extra pressure on Poland’s public healthcare system. Low immunization rates in Ukraine mean that refugees are also at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. UNICEF’s health response in Poland is focused on preventing diseases through vaccines, building healthcare capacity and capability and looking after the specific needs of mothers, children and newborns. “I believe that vaccination is important for children, for the entire population of the country. I think even during the war, we shouldn’t stop, because dangerous diseases are still nearby.” Kateryna, a mother of two from the Kiyv region of Ukraine, now living in Poland. UNICEF/UN0705564/Strek UNICEF/UN0705564/Strek The solution In partnership with the Ministry of Health and municipalities, we’re reached more than 500,000 refugees with information on essential child vaccinations via national and local campaigns. Our cooperation with the Ministry of Health also ensured the availability of critical supplies for routine childhood vaccinations. In close cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Poland and national partners, we provide refugee families with information on access to health services. We have ensured health screening of refugee children and caregivers identified as vulnerable and have worked with municipalities to provide essential health supplies and access to healthcare. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, we have developed a programme to support the primary health care of up to 200,000 women and children from Ukraine. To achieve this UNICEF has made a commitment to cover 50% of the cost of health care services provided to Ukrainian refugee women and children made by the National Health Funds to health care providers across the country in the period of February 2023 to August 2023. This is a significant investment in the health and wellbeing of the refugee population. “My toys are back in Ukraine. My bed is there as well. I also miss my friend Danya, we used to play a lot.” Mykyta, 6 after receiving his vaccinations at a medical centre in Krakow In the area of infant and young child feeding, we’re working closely with the Ministry of Health and a local NGO, to encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed and to provide information and support to ensure refugees are able to feed and care for their babies and young children as they adapt to life in a new country. We have established lactation groups in 10 maternity hospitals across the country to provide peer and expert support. When breastfeeding is not an option, our partnership with the Ministry of Health and a local NGO ensures control of the distribution of formula to refugees and alternative options, such as milk banks, to make sure it is accessible, affordable and safe for babies. In addition to the promotion of infant and young child feeding, we’ve provided warm meals and complementary food to children in youth camps, preschools and primary schools, as well as accommodation centres.

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UNICEF Emergency Response in Hungary

UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland

‘RM Child-Health’: safeguarding the health of refugee and migrant children in Europe

UNICEF Emergency Response Office in Slovakia