UNFPA Moldova with U.S Government financial support has delivered more than 10 tons of reproductive health kits to the hospitals and clinics across Moldova to provide lifesaving sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services to the refugees from Ukraine.

The reproductive health kits will support the sexual and reproductive health needs of refugee women and girls and include supplies, medicine and equipment for management of emergency obstetric and gynecological care, including onco-gynecology, clinical delivery assistance, management of complications of miscarriage, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, post-rape care, contraceptives and other reproductive health supplies. 

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who helps us get through these difficult times. First, there was a period of a pandemic, and I don’t know if we could have managed without the support of the international partners,” said Alla Nemerenko, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova.  “In the context of the refugee crisis, we have taken on the responsibility of providing health care to all who need it, including pregnant women. Thus, to date, we have registered 80 births among refugee women in Ukraine, who received absolutely free medical care. The assistance provided by the United Nations Population Fund will strengthen the current capacity of all maternity hospitals in the Republic of Moldova, and this gesture of solidarity once again proves that only together we can be stronger and face all challenges.”

The reproductive health kits will be distributed to the hospitals and 41 Youth Friendly Health Clinics across the country. The supplies will cover the needs of a population of more than 450,000 people across Moldova benefiting the refugees as well as the host communities.

The medical specialists will be trained on the use of reproductive health kits for the clinical management of reproductive health and gender-based violence cases.

“UNFPA is on the ground to strengthen the public health system of Moldova to ensure the rights, choices and urgent sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls affected by war,” said Nigina Abaszsada, UNFPA Moldova Resident Representative. “We are grateful to all partners, the U.S. Government, and other donors, who stepped up in the response, and support UNFPA to ensure the right of women to give birth safely, and live free from violence, issues that cannot be put aside in times of emergency.”

In addition to the lifesaving sexual and reproductive health supplies and equipment, UNFPA will cover the sexual and reproductive health needs of Ukraine refugee women, ensuring their access to free-of-charge services provided by the national health system, including antenatal, postnatal care, delivery, including cesareans, contraceptives, and sexually transmitted infections treatment, under a collaboration agreement with the National Health Insurance Company.

There are an estimated 25,000 refugee women from Ukraine in Moldova who are in need of essential reproductive health services. Among those women, there are 1,700 estimated pregnant refugee women with nearly 600 expected to give birth in the next three months. 

UNFPA is actively contributing to the UN response to the humanitarian situation. Earlier this month, UNFPA donated more than 8,000 dignity kits, including hygiene items and sanitary pads, to the refugee women and girls from Ukraine. UNFPA is working to equip seven maternity and neonatal units and the Oncology Institute to support reproductive health, as well as launched the Orange Safe Spaces to provide psychological counseling, referral pathways to refugee women, youth and older persons.