New IPC and antibiotic resistance course for 50 nurses from Ukraine!

2026-06-24

This September, 50 nurses from across Ukraine will participate in a new course on infection prevention and control (IPC) and antibiotic resistance. Developed by ReAct Europe in partnership with ZDOROVI, the course aims to strengthen nurses’ knowledge and practical skills to enhance patient and staff safety and promote knowledge exchange.

The ongoing war in Ukraine places immense strain on the health system. Armed conflict is widely recognized to worsen the spread of antibiotic resistance due to factors such as disrupted logistics, destroyed infrastructure, overcrowded healthcare facilities, and challenges to uphold IPC practices. Nurses play a key yet often underrecognized role in mitigating antibiotic resistance and ensuring patient safety through IPC and antibiotic stewardship. Through this course we aim to support Ukraine’s ongoing effort in tackling antibiotic resistance by building capacity and empowering nurses to become part of the solution.

Meet and greet for “Safe care starts with us”

In June, participants were welcomed to the program, “Safe care starts with us: An infection prevention and control and antibiotic resistance competency development course for nurses”. The group includes 50 nurses from across Ukraine, representing diverse specialties and levels of care. Through the course, participants will strengthen their knowledge of antibiotic resistance and IPC alongside experts from Ukraine and Sweden. As part of the course, the nurses will also ideate an individual small-scale project for their own institution.

The introductory session offered an opportunity for participants to share their expectations and suggest topics and learning approaches. They highlighted a need to deepen knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and IPC, build professional connections, and better understand their own role within the infection control system. As one nurse expressed:

“I want to know everything about working with risks and how to teach staff to work with them. I hope to gain new insights from colleagues and experts, implement them effectively, and then continuously improve it.”

What’s next?

The part-time course will run from September to mid-October. In December, a group of nurses will also take part in a knowledge exchange visit to Sweden. This will include practical training and visits to hospitals and laboratories. They will also further develop their project ideas with implementation in their workplaces planned for early 2027.

Marta Dumanska, Project Coordinator, ReAct Europe says:

“We’re excited about this new collaboration, bringing together Swedish and Ukrainian expertise. The course combines best practices in antibiotic stewardship and IPC while remaining grounded in the realities of a healthcare system affected by war.”

Safe care starts with us is organized by ReAct Europe in partnership with ZDOROVI in Ukraine. Sessions will be delivered by IPC and antibiotic resistance experts from both Ukraine and Sweden. The project is funded by Sida and is done in close collaboration with other actors within the Swedish program for support to Ukraine in the sectors of health, healthcare and social policy 2025–2027.