Over 20 thousand inhabitants of the Dnestrovsk city, left bank of the Nistru river, have access to quality healthcare

The EU has provided over 140 thousand euros for the refurbishment of the Dnestrovsk clinic within the confidence building measures programme, implemented by the UNDP.

The primary health care facility in Dnestrovsk institution, built in the '60s, have never been repaired and risked to be closed because it no longer met operation standards. The 50 years old roof was leaking, the heating system was broken, the water supply and sewerage systems were nonfunctional. Doctors didn’t have basic labor conditions to serve the population of Dnestrovsk and the nearby villages such as Pervomaisk, Nezavertailovka and Korotnoe. Now all of them have access to better medical services.

"We are proud to be here today and to talk about our joint achievements. Together with our UN and Swiss partners we are committed to strengthen and modernize the health care sector on both banks of Nistru river and to reinforce contacts of experts as well as the exchange of know how between the practitioners. We believe that this exchange is essential to improve the quality of healthcare and the EU will support the intensification of these ties to the benefit of patients from both banks of the river", said European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Pirkka Tapiola.

The renovation of Dnestrovsk clinic is one of the projects implemented on the left bank of the Nistru river with the financial support of the EU and the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC), and implemented in partnership with three United Nations agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF).

"We are proud that with the generous support from the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the United Nations, through its agencies, contributes to the significant improvement of the medical system on the Left Bank of the Nistru River. Nowadays, the reopening of the outpatient clinic allows providing better quality health care services to over 22,000 beneficiaries from the town of Dnestrovsk and neighboring villages. This is one out of 20 social infrastructural projects currently implemented under the Support to Confidence Building Measures Programme on both banks of the Nistru river", said Dafina Gercheva, UNDP Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative.

The health facility in Dnestrovsk, as many others from both banks, is equipped with cold-chain equipment provided by UNICEF and SDC. The equipment was provided for the Tiraspol Sanitaro-Epidemiological Center, as well as other 140 medical institutions, including in 44 villages.  “The access to health care services, including within the framework of primary health care, is guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This project brings to all women and children an improved access to quality mother and child health care, including perinatal care and immunization”, said Nune Mangasaryan, UNICEF Representative in Moldova.

Due to the financial support of SDC and intensive collaboration with UNDP, WHO and UNICEF were modernized the biggest perinatal centers and improved conditions for storing vaccines in medical institutions of the left bank institutions. Valeriu Sava, SDC Health Program Officer assured that the Agency will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure the improvement and maintenance of perinatal care and effective management of vaccination programs, and to create opportunities for collaboration between physicians from both banks of the Nistru river.

The inauguration event served as an opportunity to conduct an awareness raising immunization campaign in the community. WHO contributed to the improvement of the immunization services and perinatal care on the left bank of the Nistru river. "Immunization services are one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. Healthcare for mothers and children based on evidences helps create resilient communities and rise healthy generations," said Silviu Ciobanu, Coordinator of Transmissible Diseases Programme, WHO Office in Moldova.

In total, three perinatal institutions on the left bank were renovated in the period 2012-2015 with the financial support of the EU and the SDC, five institutions were equipped with modern medical equipment, and the medical personnel was trained. The emergency hospital in Bender was refurbished. Awareness campaigns were organized to promote breastfeeding, immunization and to inform people about the dangers of smoking during pregnancy. All activities were carried out with the involvement of partners from both sides of the Nistru river.