28,000 protective coveralls were provided by Sweden and UN Women Moldova for 3,279 social workers from all over the country
A second lot of assistance in the form of 28,000 protective coveralls of about $174 thousand worth was donated this week to the 36 territorial social assistance structures across the country through the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Moldova with the financial support of Sweden.Date:
The protective equipment supply is to support the efforts of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection in providing protective equipment to the first line staff of the social assistance system that provides services to vulnerable categories of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The social assistance system is still functional during the quarantine and the social assistants and workers are actively involved in assisting the population at local and rayonal level, whether visiting families, elderly people and people with disabilities or looking for solutions for their beneficiaries financial, social and emotional problems. For this reason, it is crucial for social assistants and workers to be equipped accordingly in order to their jobs as safely as possible.
The minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova Viorica DUMBRĂVEANU stated: „This support comes in the form of personal protective equipment, because in these difficult days for the Republic of Moldova, many specialists from the front line are mobilized. This pandemic has a negative impact on disadvantaged people who are more exposed to vulnerabilities: victims of violence, the elderly or people with disabilities. Thanks to this protective equipment we will ensure the security of the territorial social assistance structures' employees who are now in the first line of assistance for these vulnerable people”.
The protective equipment from current and previous lots was purchased from local production companies to support the local businesses during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. In this way, UN Women and Sweden continue to support businesses lead by women and the employed women by contracting goods and services from Moldovan producers.
Anna LYBERG, the Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova added that "By supporting social assistants and social workers with personal protective equipment we are glad that we can complement the efforts and the work done by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection. I am also very glad that we were able to purchase these emergency packages locally, the equipment provided is produced by Moldovan companies and by that we are supporting the local producers. I hope that by these joint efforts, we can ensure a sufficient level of protective equipment for the frontline personnel working every day with vulnerable groups and with victims of domestic violence".
This 174-thousand-dollar support complement the lot of disinfectants, gloves and masks that was offered to the social assistance system two weeks ago through the joint effort of UN Women Moldova and Sweden at the request of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection.
Peterson MAGOOLA, Representative a.i for UN Women Moldova mentioned: “As partners we are in solidarity with the Government of Moldova to ensure that all protective measures are taken to enable social workers and health personnel respond effectively to COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in ensuing that women and other vulnerable groups are supported. Evidence is showing that there are cases of violence against women that are not being reported, as well as lack of access to services for some vulnerable groups like people with disabilities. As partners, we need to ensure that cases are reported, and survivors of violence and other vulnerable groups can access necessary services”.
In early April 2020, UN Women Moldova with the support of Sweden contributed to the efforts of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection and the National Coalition "Life Without Violence" in providing food and hygienic products for women beneficiaries from 15 public institutions, associations and placement centers from different regions of the country.
The total amount of assistance provided in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic through UN Women with the financial support of Sweden currently amounts to 215 thousand dollars.
The UN system in Moldova supports the national response to the pandemic through coordinated activities, which aim to protect people, especially the most vulnerable, and increase the capacities of the national system in various fields.