The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the financial contribution of the Government of Romania, through the Romanian Agency for International Development (RoAid), delivered a batch of personal protective equipment  against COVID-19 for the network of 47 Reproductive Health Cabinets from the Republic of Moldova and for the Centre for Reproductive Health and Medical Genetics (CRHMG) under the Mother and Child Institute. The batch of equipment will allow health workers from these facilities to continue providing sexual and reproductive health services to the population amidst the pandemic, as they will be ensured with the necessary protection materials for the entire 2021.

The batch of personal protective equipment, purchased with the support of the Government of Romania, with the total value of USD 27,959 includes 192,143 disposable medical masks type II R, 6,000 reusable face shields and 129,000 disposable medical gloves. The boxes with the protective equipment were already delivered to the Mother and Child Institute, which will distribute them to the Reproductive Health Cabinets all over the country.  

Mrs Tatiana Zatic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, attended the event and declared: ‘Sexual and reproductive health services are part of the package of essential health care services and are aimed at improving the population’s health. The batch of personal protective equipment provided today by the United Nations Population Fund and by the Government of Romania is a gesture of solidarity with the health system of our country and an essential support for the health staff who work in the Centres for  Reproductive Health from the Republic of Moldova and will be protected against COVID-19 infection’. 

The Romanian Agency for International Development – RoAid, was represented during the event by the General Director, Mr Catalin Harnagea. In his message, he mentioned: ‘We are glad that Romania, through RoAid Agency, was able to provide this protective equipment, that is so necessary for preventing COVID-19 infection. This is a special moment as we can witness, one more time, the results of the partnership between the Romanian Agency for International Development – RoAid and UNFPA Moldova to support health programs in the Republic of Moldova’.

During the donation ceremony, Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova, stated: ‘Every person has the right to quality sexual and reproductive health services, including during public health emergencies, such as COVID-19 pandemic. The donation of personal protective equipment provided by the Government of Romania, through the Romanian Agency for International Development and UNFPA, will help the network of Reproductive Health Cabinets from the country to provide safely contraception and family planning, prevention of sexually transmitted infections and of cervical cancer, and other services, thus enabling women and men from the Republic of Moldova to live a dignified and healthy life’. 

The donation ceremony was also attended by Mr Alexandru Muresan, Deputy Head of Mission, Minister Plenipotentiary, Romanian Embassy in the Republic of Moldova and Mr Sergiu Gladun, Head of the Institute of Mother and Child – the host facility. The national network of 47 reproductive health cabinets relies on about 150 qualified health workers who provide services for risk-free maternity, family planning, cervical cancer prevention, safe and quality abortion, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, diagnosis and treatment of infertility, support to sexual violence survivors,etc.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights is a priority area for UNFPA, which is a strategic partner of the Government of the Republic of Moldova in providing support to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, including to family planning. The batch of medical personal protective equipment for professionals who work in the network of Reproductive Health Cabinets was purchased by UNFPA from the funds provided by RoAid and is part of the response of UN Population Fund, member of UN Moldova family,  to COVID-19 pandemic.