EU Project "Support to Ukraine for Developing a Modern Public Health System"
Project activities: 10.06.2019–12.05.2023
Project implementors and Beneficiaries
This project is funded by the European Union and implemented by GFA Consulting Group GmbH, Germany in consortium with the Finnish institute for health and welfare (THL). Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH) is the Project beneficiary. Public Health Center of Ukraine (PHC) and Ukrainian Transplant-Coordination Center are the Project recepients.
Project aim
The aim of the Project is to support the modernization and development of a sustainable public health system in Ukraine, which is able to ensure standards of disease prevention and control in accordance with EU legislation, requirements and practices.
Goals
- 1. To support the consolidation and capacity building of the Public Institution "Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine".
- 2. To help with creation of a modern blood safety system in Ukraine.
Our Team
Predrag Duric, MD, PhD
Team Leader and Key Expert for public health component of the project
Predrag Duric is a medical doctor, epidemiologist, and public health expert. He worked as a lecturer at the Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, Institute for Global Health and Development, as a head of the Epidemiology Department at the University of Novi Sad and epidemiologist at the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina. Predrag spent several years working as an international leading expert for sustainable financing for the United Nations Development Programme. He also worked as a consultant for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Global Fund, and other organisations and as a director of the Operational Research Unit at the Doctors Without Borders. Predrag is a member of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Technical Review Panel – an expert in strategic investment and sustainable financing.
Mohammed Farouk, MD, MBA
Project Key Expert for Blood Safety
Dr. Farouk is a medical doctor, hematologist, and healthcare management consultant. During his 23 years of professional experience, he specialized further in the fields of Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues and Cells. He served as the key expert and lead consultant for many international agencies including, but not limited to, the WHO, World Bank, EU, USAID, Swiss Red Cross, UNICEF, UNODC, and US CDC leading development and technical assistance projects in Eastern Europe, Balkan region, Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Dr. Farouk managed the Health and Research program of the Egypt-based Centre for Development Services (CDS) implementing research and development work in areas of HIV, family planning and public health. He also served as the accreditation manager and managing director of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT). In addition, Dr. Farouk is currently a board member at ICCBBA ISBT128, member of the International Advisory Council of the IDTM Academic Institute for International Development of Transfusion Medicine, and AABB international standards committee member.
Daria Demut
Project assistant
Daria graduated in Linguistics studies at Kyiv National Linguistic University and in Project management studies at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture.
In the project, she is responsible for assistance to Key expert on blood safety reform. In course of project implementation, Daria is responsible for establishing contact with partners, writing reports and coordinating the work of experts. Being a “result oriented” employee, Daria has a great deal of self-discipline and commitment combined with meticulousness and insightfulness.
In her work, she appreciates the opportunity to participate in the reform process and meet inspiring people.
Yuliia Makarova
Project Assistant
Yuliia Makarova is a qualified linguist with the international experience of working in the USA. She obtained her master’s degree in philological studies at Kyiv National Linguistic University. Yuliia was a volunteer in the Rotary Club Kyiv International and was assisting its President in establishing and launching the Club, was coordinating the Club’s social projects.
Yuliia supports the project coordinating the activities in the public health area, the work of numerous national and international experts, organises trainings, master classes, conferences, prepares and finalises the project outputs, and provides technical and administrative assistance to the project and the team leader. Being a person who is capable of working on many separate tasks at the same time, Yuliia’s contribution is beneficial in coordinating the work of more than 30 individuals simultaneously. Her approach to people is individual-oriented, and she always tries to satisfy the needs of her team in order to provide a friendly atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. She believes this is the best way to reach the results to which all aspire.
Mariia Shenenko
Project Communications Manager
Mariia Shenenko is the BA in Philology and MA in communications alumna from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy with the background in social, educational and transport campaigning, grants writing, project administration and social media management. Mariia has the expertise in community management, as well as in creating the media materials and coordinating organization of the various scale of events from trainings to international conferences.
Mariia’s responsibilities within the project cover communication with the stakeholders in terms of visibility and information partnership, creating information materials, coordinating communication experts engagement and promoting the messages of public health and blood safety reforms within the project activities.
Alina Zaklivenets
Project Office Coordinator/ Bookkeeper
As a professional in project finance and administration management, Alina Zaklivenets has a 20+ year experience in working in international technical assistance projects and private sector development programs in Ukraine, funded by KfW, EBRD, USAID, EC. Being responsible for overseeing financial and administrative operations, she has substantial expertise in the financial, regulatory, and contracting aspects and practices of different donor organizations. As a Project Office Coordinator/Bookkeeper she provides financial, administrative and HR support in the design, implementation, and monitoring of project activities. Alina has University Degrees in Linguistics (English/German) and Management. She took part in the Dynamic Business Management Programme from the De Beak Management Centre VNO-NCW (Netherlands) in Kyiv, Ukraine and is a certified HR Manager. She also spent an academic year at the University of Utah (USA).
Project activities
Expert support of the Center for Public Health (PHC)
▪️ Consolidation and operation of the Center for Public Health of Ukraine in accordance with scientific, technological and epidemiological updates.
▪️ Implementation and approximation to the requirements of the EU regulatory framework in the field of public health.
▪️ Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Center for Public Health of Ukraine to set standards, develop programs, perform key functions in the field of public health and provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health.
▪️ Introduction of a stable system of epidemiological surveillance of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
▪️ Implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) to prevent, protect and control the international spread of disease, and to respond to such threats to the public health system.
▪️ Support of the PHC Communications Department in the preparation and dissemination of verified information about the COVID-19 pandemic for various target audiences (the general public and narrow specialists).
Assistance in creating a modern blood safety system in Ukraine
▪️ Development of a national regulatory framework for blood safety and quality standards in line with EU requirements.
▪️ Defining a new structure of the national blood system and ensuring the functioning of its two components - the provision of services and regulatory surveillance.
▪️ Ensuring a reliable blood supply chain and the safety of blood donors.
▪️Implementation of harmonized European blood transfusion standards.
COVID-19 pandemic responce
▪️ Updating of the COVID-19 Pandemic Guidelines and Protocols.
▪️ Development of protocols for the collection and clinical use of convalescent plasma and other blood components for patients with SARS-CoV-2.
▪️ Providing education on the concepts and methods of lean production in cases of lack of critical materials and equipment.
▪️ Development of a national blood stock management system and improvement of the principles of blood conservation and rational use of PBM blood components, conducting a communication campaign to promote voluntary free donation during a pandemic.
