200 gynecological examination rooms in 71 primary health care institutions across Moldova have been modernized with high-performance medical equipment to provide qualitative sexual and reproductive health services at the community level.

The inauguration event of the 200 modernized examination rooms took place at the Costești Health Center, Ialoveni, one of the 71 equipped primary health care institutions. The event was attended by the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Svetlana Nicolaescu, UNFPA Representative in Moldova, Dr. Karina Nersesyan, Director of Costești Health Center, Natalia Viță, Head of Rezeni Health Center, Aliona Staiku, and other health specialists from the Ialoveni district.

"I would like to express my joy for all my colleagues who have benefited from this support, especially for colleagues who work in small offices, at a longer distance from a district center of family doctors," said Natalia Viță, Director of Costești Health Center.

Each of the 200 gynecological rooms has been equipped with a standard set of medical equipment, necessary for providing sexual and reproductive health services to the population. These include electric gynecological chairs, adapted for women with various physical needs, mobile examination lamp, medical bed with the necessary adjustments, patient scale, mobile screen, pelvimeter and stethoscope. In addition, the set includes equipment for postnatal care, such as: an electronic scale for the newborn, a baby measuring instrument, a scale for the mother and a blood pressure monitor with a professional wheeled stand.

"Today marks a significant moment for the health system of the Republic of Moldova. This project is an essential step in ensuring equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services for all women in our country. With this investment, we are not only improving the conditions of health services delivery, but also re-confirming the State's sustained efforts to protect women's health and promote equal access to essential services," noted Svetlana Nicolaescu, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.

The total investment of the 200 equipped gynecological rooms with standardized sets of high-performance medical equipment is approximately 12 million lei (USD 644,274), made possible thanks to the collective efforts of UNFPA, the European Commission and the Government of the United States of America.

"High-quality maternal and reproductive health services are closer to rural women. With support from UNFPA, 25% of all primary healthcare institutions in Moldova have modernized their gynecological examination rooms. We are happy that access to quality health services is equitable for both the local population and refugees from Ukraine," noted UNFPA Representative in Moldova, Dr. Karina Nersesyan.

The event was also attended by Maria Borta, a woman with locomotor disabilities, who has used the medical services of the Costești Health Center and said that "the installed equipment helps me to receive comfort and confidence during medical consultations, and I thank you for this".

The newly installed equipment facilitates the daily work of the family doctors and their team, contributing to an increased quality of medical care and comfort in the provision of medical services, as well as to the level of satisfaction of the beneficiaries, both refugee women from Ukraine and those from the host communities.