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collapsing health care system. From the very basic individual concerns to broader national concerns, health and social services are inadequate. Individual health and hygiene and the fundamentals of pre-natal health services are abysmal and have consequences for future generations. From recent World Health Organization reports1 the very basics of water management and sanitation do not meet current WHO requirements; one third of the population lives in conditions of intensive air pollution. The effects of the Chomobyl nuclear disaster will last for generations and continue to have a deleterious effect on Ukraine. Adding to this suffering has been the scourge of AIDS, which has reached epidemic proportions in Ukraine. Because of the severity of the AIDS crisis and the lingering effects of Chomobyl, women’s health and preventive health care education are not being addressed with priority. The statistics2 from Ukraine are staggering: • the rate of natural birth increase (birth rate minus death rate, expressed as a %) is -0.8 • the population change 2002-2050 is projected at - 20 % • infant mortality rate is estimated at 12 infant deaths per 1,000 live births; • women among the population of 15-49 with HIV/AIDS is 30% • in terms of life expectancy, Ukraine occupies 68th place among countries of the world • the increase in birth abnormalities and child morbidity is particularly alarming with a 10% increase from 1985-1992 • during the last decade, morbidity has increased, and a growing number of diseases are caused by environmental degradation, including non- infectious pathologies; malignant tumors; and diseases of the blood circulation system, hematogenous organs, and the endocrine system. Rates are particularly high in industrial regions, but have also been increasing in the countryside, a 7.5% increase. Opportunities and Challenges for the UNWLA The statistics are alarming and UNWLA membership is not in a position to take on the challenges of all these issues. However, there are experts, other organizations, and a range of initiatives underway in Ukraine in which the UNWLA can, with our broad range of expertise, know-how in community activities, and spirit of volunteering, make a significant contribution to the well-being of our sisters in Ukraine. It is important for an international women’s organization to be involved. We can: • Build on knowledge, resources, and initiatives currently in Ukraine; • Share our expertise and experience; • Provide information, education, and resources to help Ukrainian women help themselves; and • Help Ukrainian women improve their well-being and livelihood. To take advantage of the opportunities and challenges, the mission of the Ecology Committee would be to promote and revitalize the health and role of Ukrainian women. Launching the new UNWLA’s Women’s Health Fund, as a means for developing resources to join hands to help our sisters in Ukraine to further promote and revitalize the health and role of women in Ukraine, is a significant step. Within this new vision, creating a forum for discussions and exchange of ideas is necessary. It will be important to build on our collective knowledge to clearly define, in addition to the mission statement, the goals of a strategic plan of action for immediate and long-term outcomes. Initially, this will entail defining a working group of experts (those familiar with the issues in Ukraine), building on knowledge and networks, and accessing others' experiences in implementing a fund. Our efforts should target the critical issues we can effectively address. These could include health and hygiene issues, pre-natal health care education, breast cancer awareness, health and aging, sexually transmitted diseases, or AIDs awareness and education. Embarking on a New Vision The challenge for defining our task is ahead of us. It’s an exciting time. As a successful international women’s organization, we will find imaginative mechanisms to draw upon resources from the Ukrainian community in the United States and Canada, the United States government, NGOs and UN organizations, and experts in the Ukrainian community to secure resources. Together, we can implement a plan of action to help the women of Ukraine and share the success. 1 World Health Organization (2000) Highlights on Health in Ukraine, Health Information Unit (www.who.dk) 2 World Health Organization (2000) Highlights on Health in Ukraine, Health Information Unit (www.who.dk); and Population Resource Bureau (PRB) 2002 World Population Data Sheet * * * Editor's Note: The article is reprinted from a journal compiled for The World of the 2I st Century Woman Conference organized and hosted by UNWLA Branch 95 at Soyuzivka, in April 2003. For a comprehensive report on the conference, see May 2003 issue of Our Life. “Н А Ш Е Ж И Т Т Я ”, Л И П Е Н Ь -С Е Р П Е Н Ь 2003 13
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