Over 100 children benefitted from specialised services provided by Early Intervention Centre “Lăstărel” from Criuleni

“Lăstărel” is a centre in Criuleni specializing in early intervention for children with disabilities and learning differences, it is the first of its kind in the eastern region of Moldova. Their services are free and available to all families in Criuleni and Dubasari raions. During the COVID-19 pandemic the Centre experienced difficulties and received an emergency support grant from of the EU-funded project “COVID-19: Civil Society Resilience and Sustainability”, implemented by ERIM. This support meant the centre was able to continue their work and they went on to help 110 children under the age of 3.

Between October 2020 – September 2021, the six specialists of the centre – a paediatrician, a neurologist, a psychologist, a psychology teacher, a social worker and a physiotherapist – offered to children therapy and rehabilitation services and to their parents psychological counselling and individual consultancy in providing support to their children at home.

One of the beneficiaries of the centre is Alex from Criuleni raion, a 10-month-old boy that was brought by his mother to be evaluated when he was only 3 months old. The specialists of the “Lăstărel” center recommended a recovery programme including physical therapy and medical massages. Elena, Alex’s mother said: “I have noticed improvements after the first massage sessions when he began to roll up from side to side, and after the second rehabilitation course Alex began to sit up. … It is a great benefit to have such services close to home and especially for free. The specialists are very good, I recommend them with confidence to other parents.”