In these difficult times, when war affects the daily life of communities, access to healthcare is often a matter not only of comfort, but of safety. Specialized medical professionals are not always available nearby, it is not always easy to travel quickly to a city, and in small settlements people often lack regular check-ups and modern diagnostic services. That is why mobile gynecological teams have become a vital way for many communities to receive essential services closer to home.
A mobile team is not a “one-time visit,” but a systematic effort that combines medical care, prevention, and counseling. Its mission is simple and deeply human: to ensure that women can take timely care of their health without postponing important examinations because of distance, lack of transport, or difficult life circumstances.
The Kirovohrad region includes many small villages and remote communities where infrastructure is limited, and the journey to the nearest healthcare facility can be long and exhausting. In such circumstances, the arrival of medical professionals is not just a convenience. It is an opportunity to undergo an examination, receive consultation, ask questions, and understand what to do next—right where you live.
The outreach team works in many different conditions: in winter, in freezing temperatures and snow; sometimes during power outages; and often in premises that must be adapted for medical consultations. Yet one thing remains constant: attentiveness to people, professionalism, and readiness to work where help is needed most.
Many of the visits in communities are preventive in nature. Women come simply to “get checked” because they have not had such an opportunity for a long time. And this is where the true value of mobile care lies: prevention makes it possible to identify problems early and avoid complications. Doctors not only conduct examinations, but also help women understand where to go next if further tests or specialized care are needed.
One outreach visit that particularly stood out to the team took place in a residence for people who had been forced to leave their homes because of the war. Some had been living in the Kirovohrad region for a long time, while others had arrived only recently. For such people, access to regular healthcare can be even more difficult: a new community, unfamiliar routes, the absence of familiar contacts, and constant stress. In this context, the opportunity to receive a comprehensive examination on site is not only about medical services, but also about a sense of care and support.
As obstetrician-gynecologist Tetiana Fendak notes, preventive check-ups are among the most common reasons women seek help during these visits. At the same time, each outreach visit is also about helping a person continue their path within the healthcare system:
It is important for us that patients are not left alone with their concerns. If we see that additional examinations or consultation with a specialized doctor are needed, we explain the next steps and refer them to where they can receive the necessary care.
This is the strength of mobile teams: they do not “replace” the healthcare system, but help people enter it—on time, without unnecessary fear, and without barriers.
The work of mobile gynecological teams is always about cooperation. The project is implemented as part of UNFPA Ukraine’s humanitarian response, with financial support from Spain. At the regional level, this is a joint effort between the medical team and organizational coordinators to ensure that outreach visits take place regularly and that services remain high-quality and accessible.
In the Kirovohrad region, this work is carried out through the efforts of the Regional Center for Family Planning and Human Reproduction of the Kirovohrad Regional Council and the Charitable Organization “Convictus Ukraine,” which coordinates organizational processes, supports cooperation with partners, and helps build the work in line with the needs of local communities.
The stories of mobile teams are always about people. About women who finally find time to care for their health. About professionals who go where it is difficult to reach. About communities that open their doors and place their trust in them.
We continue to work so that medical care is closer, clearer, and more accessible — even in the most difficult times.
The mobile gynecological team operates in the Kirovohrad region as part of UNFPA Ukraine’s humanitarian response, with financial support from the Government of Spain, in cooperation with Convictus Ukraine.