“I am incredibly satisfied when I look in the eyes of recovering patients. I have developed into a self-sufficient, confident woman. I am not afraid of making important decisions. I hope my children are proud of me.”
Meet Nataliia, a tuberculosis doctor in Donetsk region, Ukraine. As an expert in her field, she has been at the forefront of TB care and prevention in Donetsk region for more than ten years – including coordinating activities between primary and secondary healthcare facilities.
In 2021, Nataliia and her local medical partners became pioneers in a new USAID-supported pilot project, deploying innovative approaches to enhance TB detection and treatment at local primary care clinics. Natalia led the local pilot, and provided significant input into local regulations and training for local doctors and nurses. With USAID support, Nataliia and her colleagues developed essential tools to improve TB case detection and management at the PHC level – tools that not only inspired similar changes in other regions, but proved critical to continuation of localized care following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The systems Nataliia helped develop proved resilient even during the darkest days of the war. Primary health care workers in Donetsk region were able to continue detecting TB cases and enrolling patients on to treatment regimes, even when traditional TB services were not functioning. From March to October 2022 – the first eight months of the war – primary healthcare workers in Donetsk region used these systems to keep 214 TB patients who chose to stay in Donetsk on consistent treatment, and even detected a further 113 cases of TB and enrolled those patients on medication.
Nataliia seamlessly coordinated TB service provision in the region, keeping track of all the region’s TB patients – whether they temporarily relocated to safety or stayed at home – and ensured that patients who had been displaced still received services and treatment in their new homes. She also advocated among PHC facilities to sign contracts with Ukraine’s National Health Service (NHSU) so that they could provide TB care to adults and children. With Nataliia’s support, all PHC facilities in Donetsk region now have contracts with NHSU.
Nataliia's inspiration stems from her family and the tangible impact she can make in improving health care outcomes.
She says, “When I see a clear purpose, I get inspired. The thought that I can help a person or society is inspiring. One successfully completed task motivates me for a new one.”
Nataliia remains focused on helping others and providing high-quality care despite the challenges posed by the shortage of TB doctors and damaged medical infrastructure.
After the regional TB dispensary was reopened in October 2022, Natalia returned to Kramatorsk to continue her work, providing TB services to both inpatients and outpatients.
“Professionally, I feel happy. I love my job; I am incredibly satisfied when I look in the eyes of recovering patients. I have developed into a self-sufficient, confident woman. I am not afraid of making important decisions. I hope my children are proud of me”.
