War changes people's routes, but it does not change the nature of dangerous infections. On the contrary, forced displacement, loss of housing, living in temporary conditions, stress, and limited access to health services significantly increase the risk of developing tuberculosis.

That is why in the first half of 2026 the MHO team Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI) continued the project implementation "You should know about tuberculosis", which combines social and medical services, helping people from high-risk groups to get tested and start treatment in a timely manner.

Despite airstrikes, regular shelling, large-scale population migration, and even a cyberattack on the organization's digital infrastructure, the project was completed. 100% of planned indicators.

6 regions. Thousands of people. One common result

During the first six months of the year, social workers and project partners worked in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Lviv, Vinnytsia, and Chernivtsi regions. In 2026, his team focused its efforts on those who are suffering the most: internally displaced persons (IDPs) and people who have been released from prison in the past two years. These are two categories that often find themselves on the sidelines of the health system due to 

bureaucracy, prejudice, or just plain confusion.

During this time:

• 6571 person from risk groups underwent screening for tuberculosis;
• 3290 people had symptoms that required additional examination;
• 3289 people (99,97%) were successfully referred and underwent medical diagnosis;
• 68 cases of tuberculosis were detected in the early stages;
• 100% of patients with a confirmed diagnosis, treatment was started.

These numbers mean much more than the indicators achieved.

Each timely detected case means saving the health of a specific person, preventing the further spread of infection, and reducing state costs for the treatment of severe forms of the disease.

From screening to treatment — without losing a person along the way

One of the main advantages of the project is that it is not just about conducting information work or screening.

LHSI provides a complete customer journey:

• motivational counseling;
• assistance with making an appointment at a medical facility;
• support during the examination;
• support at the beginning of treatment;
• referral of patients to psychosocial support programs.

That is why almost every person who showed symptoms reached a medical facility. For people who could not undergo the necessary examinations due to lack of documents or financial difficulties, the project additionally financed 72 computed tomography scans, removing barriers to establishing an accurate diagnosis.

"The most important result of the project is not the indicators being met, but the fact that thousands of people who were most vulnerable due to the war were not left outside the healthcare system." — says the project manager Ilona Yeleneva. In 2018, we achieved that this intervention was included in the grant of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, now - for 8 years in a row - we have a stable effective intervention, time-tested, reliable partners in the regions. We have proven that even in conditions of constant shelling, it is possible to build a route that leads a person from the first consultation to the start of treatment. This is a model that must be preserved and developed in 2027.

A partnership that works

The project has become an example of effective interaction between public organizations, social service centers, and phthisiopulmonological institutions. During the first half of the year, the LHSI team held dozens of working meetings, exercises, and monitoring visits in all regions of implementation.

Together with partners, client routes were improved, the quality of documentation was checked, service provision was verified, and a unified system of interaction between medical and social services was maintained.

It is this model that ensures the stability of results even during war. Quality control — not on paper, but in real life

The team paid special attention to quality control.

LHSI specialists called randomly selected clients monthly to confirm receipt of services and motivational certificates. The vast majority of respondents confirmed undergoing the examination and receiving support.

Such an independent verification mechanism enhances the transparency of the use of donor funds and confirms the reliability of reported indicators.

When war complicates access to medicine

In the first half of 2026, teams worked under conditions of constant airstrikes, power outages, mass population movements, and a difficult security situation.

The biggest challenge remained the mobility of people. Some clients moved between regions or went abroad, which made it much more difficult to support them.

Despite this, the project not only maintained its effectiveness, but also ensured the implementation of all key indicators.

"For our clients, the social service provider, the NGO "Social Initiatives for Occupational Safety and Health", is often the first person they trust.". — says Elena Tarkina, social worker at the Kharkiv City Center for Social Services "Dovera." — It is thanks to cooperation with this public organization that we can not only recommend consulting a doctor, but actually accompany a person to the examination, get a high-quality result that will help get the person who turns to us out of a difficult life situation. As support from a partner significantly increases the effectiveness of the entire social assistance system. We and our clients are glad that we can count on such support.

Why is it important to continue the project in 2027?

The demand for services is not decreasing. On the contrary, teams in all regions are noticing an increase in the number of people who need screening, counseling, and assistance in undergoing diagnostics.

The experience of 2026 demonstrates that investments in early detection of tuberculosis have extremely high social effectiveness. According to the senior program specialist of the project Nina Gladykh: "Tuberculosis is well treated if detected in time. The project allows us to find patients in the early stages, when they have not yet lost the chance to quickly start treatment. And given that this is a mobile category of the population, IDPs, who often fall out of regular medical supervision at the community level due to frequent moves, such interaction with a public organization is invaluable for the safety of the entire community."

Every timely diagnosed case:

• prevents further spread of infection;
• allows you to start treatment without the development of severe forms of the disease;
• reduces the burden on the healthcare system;
• helps maintain the working capacity of a person and their family.

The established network model of LHSI interaction has already proven its effectiveness.

That is why continuing to support the project in 2027 will not mean launching a new initiative "from scratch", but scaling a proven system that is already saving lives today.

Together with partners and donors, we can ensure that even more Ukrainians learn about their diagnosis in time, receive treatment, and a chance for a healthy future.

Because tuberculosis can only be overcome when a person is not left alone with it.