EUROPEAN UNION DONATED MODERN EQUIPMENT TO STRENGTHEN RESOURCES INVOLVED IN THE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROCESS THROUGH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
On 28 December 2021, the European Union donated 120 laptops, 120 computers, 152 TV screens and 1,100 pieces of clothing and protective equipment to health institutions involved in the COVID-19 vaccination process, via the World Health Organization (WHO). The support, which is intended to help strengthen resources in the health system, is being donated as part of the EU-WHO initiative and funded by the European Union to support the national vaccination process.
The value of the donation is around 228,000 EUR. Thanks to the support of the European Union and WHO, the 120 laptops and 120 computers will be distributed to health facilities in primary health care to improve the rate of use of information systems and the full digitisation of the vaccination process. This will enable family doctors and nurses to enter data in real time and more easily into the automated information system „COVID-19 Electronic State Vaccination Registry”. The mobile vaccination teams within the health centres will also be equipped with the appropriate equipment for the proper conduct and promotion of the vaccination process: vests, backpacks, caps, and protective masks.
The 152 TV screens will be distributed to hospitals across the country to inform groups at-risk about the importance of vaccination, infection prevention measures and the risks of COVID-19.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Svetlana Nicolăescu, said: “The donation contributes to improving the level of use of information systems by health workers, by digitising the process of collecting data on vaccination against COVID-19 in the Republic of Moldova, and to make the work of mobile vaccination teams in localities more efficient. We are grateful to the European Union and the World Health Organization for their continued support and, perhaps most importantly, for the lesson of solidarity they have been offering us since the outbreak of this pandemic and beyond.”
Gintautas Baranauskas, Deputy Head of the Operations Section of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, underlined: “Medical workers, who are part of the mobile vaccination teams, doctors and family health nurses must have the best possible working conditions, modern and safe equipment to facilitate their work. The European Union will continue to support the modernisation of the healthcare system so that patients have access to quality healthcare and healthcare workers have access to safe working conditions.”
Dr. Miljana Grbic, WHO Representative in the Republic of Moldova, said: “The IT equipment donated today will contribute to equipping healthcare workers in health centres, to the efficient use of the electronic registry on vaccination against COVID-19 and to the monitoring of vaccinated persons. WHO, with the support of the European Union and other partners, is always on the side of the Republic of Moldova with technical support, training and donations. We need to further strengthen our efforts to increase vaccination rates, especially for those most at risk – people with certain chronic diseases and over 60 years of age. Expanding vaccination opportunities is essential to achieve the 70% vaccination coverage rate for all age groups and to successfully interrupt the spreading of the virus.”
As of 28 December 2021, approximately 370,000 cases of COVID-19 have been registered in the Republic of Moldova and more than 970,000 people are vaccinated with both doses.
