From 2023 to 2025, 142 medical professionals from all regions of Ukraine completed training in infection prevention and control (IPC) at 4 schools organized by the WHO Country Office in collaboration with national partners. IPC plays a critical role in patient safety and affects all aspects of health-care, including how hospitals operate during and outside of emergencies.
In the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, health care-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have a dramatic impact on the health of people inside and outside the country, as conflict creates conditions that allow AMR to spread further.
Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, emphasized WHO's commitment to establishing a resilient health-care system in the country, capable of ensuring effective IPC: “Our team helps to form the necessary knowledge in IPC among health-care workers and to develop skills for preventing infections in health-care facilities.”
Theoretical and practical training
Each IPC school comprised a theoretical and a practical component. The theoretical segment included 20 topics divided into 3 content modules, totalling 60 academic hours: 40 hours of lectures and 20 hours of assignments and testing.
Three of the 4 IPC schools were conducted in a distance-learning format, while the fourth offered face-to-face theoretical training. Participants were required to complete 8 homework assignments and pass tests to proceed to the practical phase.
The practical component of the IPC schools involved a 3-day in-person training session focused on developing hands-on skills. It covered essential IPC topics, including:
- prevention of health care-associated infections
- hand hygiene
- rational use of personal protective equipment
- implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene programmes
- establishment of IPC programmes and surveillance of health care-associated infections.
Participants who successfully passed the final exam received a certificate demonstrating their competence in IPC. The schools, supported by the Government of the Netherlands and the European Union, have equipped medical professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement effective IPC measures.
Moving forwards
The number of possible participants was limited to 185 experts, yet WHO received approximately 2000 applications from medical professionals, including doctors and nurses. This shows huge demand and need for such capacity-building. The largest number of applicants came from the Kyiv and Lviv regions. The next IPC school is planned for autumn 2025.
WHO also supported the implementation of mandatory IPC minimum requirements for all health-care facilities. This initiative represents a significant step forward in embedding rigorous IPC protocols into the Ukrainian health-care system.
Looking ahead, the WHO IPC team remains committed to enhancing surveillance, strengthening governance and expanding training efforts to address the growing challenges of IPC and maintain the safety and well-being of health-care professionals and patients.