How Do Mobile Medical Teams Operate in Zhytomyr Region?
Three times a week, mobile medical teams visit villages in three communities in Zhytomyr Region: Narodytska, Olevska, and Slovechanska TG. To restore access to medical services for local residents, these teams, consisting of a family doctor, nurse, psychologist, and social worker, provide accessible and free services including primary medical care, as well as psychological and social consultations.
“Every Tuesday, our mobile medical team visits villages in the Narodytska community. During one visit, we see over 20 people, conduct initial examinations, and provide health consultations based on people’s complaints and requests. We also perform screenings on-site, such as for diabetes. Elevated blood glucose levels are often detected for the first time, meaning people were unaware of their risk,” says family doctor Olena Mysiuk.
If a positive screening result is found, the patient is referred for consultations with specialists and additional examinations. Based on three months of MMT operation in Zhytomyr communities, the most frequently needed consultations and follow-ups are with endocrinologists and cardiologists.
During their visits, mobile medical teams (MMTs) conduct four types of medical screenings:
- Diabetes;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
- Hearing loss.
Additionally, MMTs perform extra diagnostics on-site, including electrocardiography, otoscopy, ophthalmoscopy, and vision acuity tests. If necessary, they can conduct ultrasound diagnostics and tests for cholesterol, troponin, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and measure blood oxygen levels.
Each time the MMTs visit, they receive gratitude from the local residents who otherwise lack the means to reach a doctor. These residents require not only primary healthcare services but also consultations with specialists, as emphasized by Nadiya Yevheniivna from Chaban village in the Slovechanska community.
From January to March, MMTs made 34 visits, with an additional 14 in April, serving over 1150 local residents in the Olevska, Narodytska, and Slovechanska communities. These visits will continue until September, aiming to reach all the villages in these communities.
Mobile medical teams operate within the framework of the “Innovations to Overcome the HIV Epidemic” project supported by USAID (the United States Agency for International Development) in collaboration with PACT. This project is implemented in Zhytomyr Region by the NGO “In Touch Ukraine Foundation.”