Promoting Women's Health During COVID-19
As Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine face a worse second wave of COVID-19, Project Kesher trained-activists are on the ground, monitoring the needs of their communities and responding proactively to crisis. As a result of the success of PK’s Women’s Health Programming, Project Kesher is highly respected in the community amongst medical institutions, has many exceptional connections in the public sphere, and continues to be a trusted resource for information on women’s health.
When women put their own healthcare on hold, Project Kesher leaders innovate to remind women to prioritize their healthcare and self-care, even in a pandemic. We are proud to share the latest from our leaders in Ukraine and Russia, who are promoting breast health campaigns on massive public billboards throughout their countries. Messages encouraging breast self-exams and regular screenings even during the pandemic are featured on 75+ public LED Boards and billboards in Ukraine and Russia, each reaching thousands of people every day.
In Russia, the campaign has been featured on 63 LED Boards in Tula, Volgograd, Kostroma, Orenburg, and Kaluga. In the Tula region alone, it has been showcased on 40 LED Boards in the busiest parts of the city and is displayed every 5 minutes, adding up to 288 times a day. In Ukraine, the campaign has been advertised across Dnipro, Zaporizye, Odessa, Kriviy Rig, and Khakiv, and will stay up for four weeks.
Additionally, from October 15th to October 31st, Project Kesher Russia is running a hotline for pro bono telemedicine consulting, including access to a board of health experts. Due to the pandemic, many women are afraid to go to medical institutions because of the risk of infection, causing some patients to postpone planned treatment. In addition, as a result of restrictions on routine appointments, visiting doctors of different specialties is much more difficult.
The Women's Health Program of PKR partners closely with various medical institutions. Twenty-six highly qualified doctors from eleven regions of Russia expressed their willingness to become online consultants on a wide range of women's health issues during this time.
Anyone can call and ask these specialists questions related to physical or mental health. Doctors are taking note of repeat questions and preparing answers, which will be published on our social networks for our communities to learn from.
So far, approximately 50 women have called and consulted with our specialists. PKR has also opened up the hotline to Belarus, ensuring that Belarusian women are able to schedule consultations and receive answers to their medical questions.