Since 2009, Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University (VNMU) has been a cornerstone in allergy forecasting in Ukraine, contributing to the European network of aerobiological stations. VNMU's Vinnytsia air monitoring site has provided essential pollen data, creating weekly allergy forecasts based on it since 2011. Published on allergy.org.ua since 2018, these forecasts have significantly raised awareness about seasonal allergy prevention. However, experiencing public demand for allergy-related information as this disease affects about 30% of Ukraine's population, the "All About Allergy" project evolved into a comprehensive web portal. Offering education on allergy causes, symptoms, prevention, treatments, the portal now has over 1,000 science-based stories reviewed by medical experts. The COVID-19 pandemic saw the website adapt to focus on immunological issues, creating infographics on prevention, vaccination, and mask-wearing that were widely disseminated, including in Vinnytsia public schools. The initiative's resilience is evident as it continues despite the full-scale war. Addressing new challenges, such as pollen allergies among military personnel, VNMU developed a special prognostic module for assessing pollen allergy risks in Ukraine. This module, now part of the web-site, showcases the initiative's commitment to public health. The All-About-Allergy website has attracted up to 5 million users from 104 countries since 2018, with substantial engagement from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Poland. In 2024 alone, the website saw around 400,000 visits, including 304,000 new users. This high engagement underscores the website's broad relevance and importance. The initiative engages diverse stakeholders, including doctors, patients, and healthcare professionals. Its credibility is bolstered by recognition from the Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Sanitary Doctor, Ihor Kuzin. Additionally, experts from VNMU and eight other medical establishments across Ukraine ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date. In summary, VNMU's "All About Allergy" initiative stands out for its extensive community involvement, innovative approaches, and significant public health impact.
4th PLACE
Ukrainian Community Engagement Initiative of the Year Award
All About Allergy: Allergy Awareness and Prevention in a changing World
4th PLACE Ukrainian Community Engagement Initiative of the Year Award
Peoples' Choice Category Winner
Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University - Ukraine
"Allergy.org.ua - roadmap for a Healthier Future in a Changing World!"
Summary
Key People
Victoria Rodinkova
Professor
Pharmacy,
National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Victoria Rodinkova
Professor
Pharmacy,
National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Victoria Rodinkova
Professor
Pharmacy,
National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our deep gratitude to Dr. Serhii Yuriev, whose vision and dedication were the driving force behind the creation of the "All About Allergy" web portal. His generous contributions of both financial resources and personal efforts were instrumental in bringing this initiative to life.
Special thanks to Allex Diagnostics Ukraine and for DIVERO clinics for their support, and to Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University (VNMU) for fostering an environment that encourages the creative work of its professors and staff, making the development of this website possible.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the UNICOM project, which played a crucial role in internationalizing the website's impact. Thanks to UNICOM, "All About Allergy" gained recognition beyond Ukraine, reaching a broader international audience.
Images
Motto
Infographics
Geography of the audience
QR_codes key pages
Watermelon_Allergy
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
The journey of allergy awareness in Ukraine began in 1992 when Professor Boris Pukhlyk established a course in clinical immunology and allergology at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University. Concerned for his community, Professor Pukhlyk also founded a company to produce allergens for diagnosis and treatment. However, a critical element was missing: identifying which allergens, especially pollen, were affecting the population.
In 1999, Professor Pukhlyk entrusted graduate student Victoria Rodinkova with the challenge of creating a pollen forecasting system. At that time, aerobiological research in Ukraine was nearly non-existent, and Victoria had to start from scratch. Her breakthrough came when she discovered an unexpected abundance of hornbeam pollen in Vinnytsia. This discovery, linking hornbeam pollen to birch pollen—an important allergen in Europe—revealed significant local allergen sensitivities. Further Victoria’s work laid the groundwork for Ukraine’s allergy forecasting system, which became part of the European Aerobiological Network’s website in 2011. Her dedication, along with her journalistic experience, led to the creation of the "All-About-Allergy" website in 2018. Initially a simple forecast page, it evolved into a comprehensive portal offering valuable information on allergy prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it provided crucial data on prevention and treatment, and in response to the ongoing war, it developed an innovative module for allergy prevention in challenging environments.
Today, the website has reached 5 million users across 104 countries. In 2024 it garnered over 400,000 visits, including 304,000 new users. This impact demonstrates how one individual’s dedication can transform public health.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
1. Embrace Vision and Innovation: Leaders should cultivate a forward-thinking mindset, identifying gaps and pioneering solutions that address unmet needs.
2. Commit to Community Wealth: Leaders should prioritize the well-being of their communities, e.g. public health in our case. Empathy and dedication are important in leadership.
3. Start Small, Think Big: Journey from creating a basic pollen forecasting system to developing a comprehensive web portal exemplifies the power of starting small with a clear vision. Leaders should be prepared to begin with modest resources but aim for expansive growth and impact.
4. Adapt and Innovate Continuously: The evolution of the "All-About-Allergy" website illustrates the importance of adaptability and continuous innovation. Leaders should remain flexible, adapting to new challenges and opportunities to enhance their initiatives.
5. Leverage Expertise and Collaboration: Collaboration of scientists with medical experts and journalistic experience were crucial in transforming the project. Leaders should build strong networks, seek diverse expertise, and foster collaborations to achieve their goals effectively.
6. Respond to Emerging Needs: The website’s adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of a module for allergy prevention in wartime show the importance of responding to emerging needs. Leaders should be agile, ready to pivot their strategies in response to changing circumstances.
7. Measure and Communicate Impact: The substantial engagement statistics and global reach of the website demonstrate the importance of measuring and communicating impact. Leaders should track their progress, share their successes, and use data to drive further improvements.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
We are currently working on or planning the following:
1. Expansion of Online Presence:
- This includes enhancing website functionality by investing in advanced features such as interactive tools for personalized allergy management, real-time pollen tracking, and user-generated content to increase engagement. VNMU, through the “All About Allergy” web portal, has joined the European PASYFO program, which provides users with allergy information via mobile devices. Further development of this is expected in the near future.
2. Extending Impact to the European Audience:
As part of the COST ADOPT Action, a set of allergy-related infographics in English has been developed. We plan to submit them to scientific journals in the field of allergy for peer review. Some of these infographics may later be translated into various European languages.
3. Updating and Revising Articles:
We will conduct regular content reviews, ensuring that all articles are scheduled for revision to keep the information accurate and up-to-date.
4. Seeking New Resources and Partnerships:
We are exploring opportunities for grants and funding from health organizations, government bodies, and private sponsors to support our expansion efforts.
We also plan to continue collaborations and develop partnerships with research institutions, healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations to enhance content, expand outreach, and leverage additional resources.
