With the support of European Union, 2200 persons with disabilities and staff from 6 residential institutions became better protected against COVID-19 pandemic
The EU-funded project “Ensuring safety and human rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in 6 residential institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic”, implemented by Keystone Moldova ended in March 2021. The project was implemented over a period of seven months and focused on improving the safeguarding environment for persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities and staff from residential institutions for better protection against COVID-19.
Thus, 1,700 persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities and 500 staff received and are benefiting of various protective equipment against COVID-19, like masks (33 000 units), gloves (33,000 units), protective goggles (1,400 units), face visors (2,000 units), disinfectant (250 bottles of 5 litres each), disposable gowns (6,000 units) and protective footwear (3,000 units). “The donated protective equipment helped us to prevent and control the spread of the virus in our institution. Not so long ago, a person with disabilities was infected with the virus and we have taken all preventive measures and managed to keep safe all the other persons within the institution”, mentioned an institution employee.
Additionally, special visor masks were offered for 2,000 people with hearing impairments, including children, to provide them protection, as well as barrier-free communication.
To increase the access to information of persons with disabilities and staff, 6 monitors linked to computers were installed in all 6 residential institutions. The brochures, video spots on how to prevent the infection with COVID-19 were translated in easy to read language and are broadcasted daily in those institutions.
Altogether 42 self-advocates from residential institutions were capacitated on how to support their peers to address complaints, if any, over a Hotline service and received 40 mobile phones as technical support. “We know that we need to call the Hotline Service when our rights are violated. The consultants will help us to solve our problems”.
Moreover, 17 staff members from residential institutions were capacitated as trainers in safeguarding policy against COVID-19 and delivered the training under Keystone mentorship to another 490 staff, ensuring the implementation of the developed safeguarding internal policy in all six residential institutions. Afterwards, the staff delivered information to all residents in institutions. At the same time, 63 employees increased their knowledge on burnout syndrome prevention and stress management, to meet the challenges related to people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities behaviours in crisis time.
The project “Ensuring safety and human rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in 6 residential institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic” was implemented by Keystone Moldova and funded by the European Union from the EU Rapid Response Mechanism to urgent needs of civil society in the Eastern Partnership.
For details, please access: https://www.privesc.eu/arhiva/94164/Evenimentul-de-incheiere-a-proiectului–Parteneriatul-Estic-2019-2020–Mecanismul-de-Raspuns-Rapid–Siguranta-si-drepturile-persoanelor-cu-dizabilitat
