Given that the pandemic situation is worsening in the Republic of Moldova and that authorities are mostly unable to manage it, international help in the form of donations is more than welcomed nowadays.

On October 2, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the office in Moldova announced that the Estonian Government donated essential equipment worth 50 000 euro to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (GIES) in order to help fighting COVID-19.

4 tunnel field tents, with a capacity of 15 places each, 4 warm air fans and 5 ecological toilettes were donated.

“This equipment will be used to set mobile centres for quarantine, pre-triage and epidemiological triage near hospital units or other public institutions,” it is mentioned in the UNDP press release.

“We are delighted to hand-over today 4 lots of mobile triage centres thanks to the partnership and generous support of the Government of Estonia. These are essential key instruments to limit the spread of the disease and to manage adequately the patients’ flow in the regions of Moldova,” Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative for the Republic of Moldova, said.

During the same period, another contribution of £160 000 was announced do be made by the UK Government through UNDP, the World Health Organization and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In this case, 100 pulse oximeters, measuring oxygen distribution for critical patients, isolation gowns and coveralls, sanitizers, disinfectants and non-contact infrared thermometers were provided to intensive care units of medical institutions, as well as to other healthcare institutions throughout Moldova.

Also, with support from the UK, packages containing non-perishable food, hygienic products and personal protection equipment were offered to vulnerable women, men and children from the Transnistrian region, as it is mentioned in an UNDP communiqué.

“I wish to express the British Embassy’s admiration and respect to all the health sector workers in the Republic of Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region and in Gagauzia where I know that this donation will be put to very good use, in saving innocent lives,” noted the UK Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.

On May 21, the Financing Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the World Bank’s International Development Association on the implementation of the “Emergency Response to COVID-19” Project worth 52.9 million euros was ratified.

Today the first batch of 20 air fans, along with 400 infusion pumps, 200 monitors  and 42 electrocardiograph (EKG) equipment that were purchased within the project were delivered in Moldova, as the Minister of Health, Viorica Dumbrăveanu, reported.

The Moldovan healthcare system encounters an acute shortage of properly equipped spaces for people needing intensive care, as well as prepared and available medical staff who can provide assistance to the most critical patients. Moldovan hospitals were never prepared for a pandemic. Because of that, hundreds of people already died because they didn’t receive proper medical care, thousands of medical workers are exhausted and helpless.

Now, authorities officially declare that there are no more available beds in hospitals. They do not even try to pretend that the situation is under control anymore. “We are in the process of evaluating and identifying 300 additional beds in municipal medical institutions, to cope with the number of patients infected with COVID-19,” Dumbrăveanu also said.

A critical situation is being reported by district hospitals throughout the country: there are no beds, patients are intubated with old, inappropriate devices because the other ones are either too few or not working. With a bit of luck, they are sent to hospitals in other districts or in Chisinau as soon as a bed is vacated.

There are 56 901 confirmed cases at the moment in Moldova and 1 375 deaths. 744 cases are reported as being serious or critical.

Photo: MHLSP

The National Extraordinary Public Health Commission (NEPHC) adopted Decision no. 33 of September 28, which includes measures’ update when it comes to entering the Republic of Moldova by foreign citizens.

According to the newly established rules, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection (MHLSP) issued a list of countries at high or low risk of COVID-19 transmission, classified in red and green areas. The list was published on the official pages of the MHLSP, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, as well as the National Agency for Public Health, being updated every 14 days.

The revised list of countries classified in red and green areas can be found here. Such neighbouring countries as Romania, Ukraine and Russia are still included in the red zone.

The indicator for the inclusion in the list of red-categorised countries represents the incidence of confirmed cases of COVID-19 that is greater or equal to 50 cases per 100 000 population. “All persons crossing the state border in order to enter the Republic of Moldova and coming directly or in transit from the states classified as red zone will have to fill in the epidemiological form and comply with the 14-day self-isolation regime,” said the MHLSP.

At the same time, foreign citizens who are coming from countries classified as green zone are exempted from these restrictions.

Foreign citizens coming from countries classified as green areas do not have to fill in the form and are not required to comply with the self-isolation regime of 14 days, according to the NEPHC decision. However, “if the starting point is located in a green zone and, during the journey, a country classified as a red zone was transited (including airport transit), then the person is considered to be coming from the red zone.” Therefore, previously-mentioned restrictions are imposed.

It is forbidden to enter the territory of the Republic of Moldova for foreign citizens and stateless persons coming from countries classified as red zone with the following exceptions:

• family members of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova;
• persons holding a long-stay visa, a residence permit or a document equivalent to a residence permit;
• persons traveling for work with the presentation of confirmatory documents (including an invitation and/or a contract signed with a legal entity from the Republic of Moldova);
• pupils/students traveling for activities related to graduation/organization/development of studies, as well as their legal representatives or attendants;
• family members of foreign nationals who have been allowed to stay in Republic of Moldova;
• foreign citizens working as teachers in the Republic Moldova;
• holders of diplomatic, service, official and special passports, including family members, staff of diplomatic and consular missions and personnel involved in providing humanitarian aid;
• persons in transit, including those repatriated as a result of consular protection;
• people traveling for health and humanitarian reasons, including their companions, with the presentation of confirmatory documents;
• cross-border workers from Romania or Ukraine;
• drivers, aircraft crews, train crews and service personnel;
• international observers in the presidential elections, representatives of international organizations, governments, foreign states, non-governmental organizations from abroad, as well as internationals experts accredited by the Central Electoral Commission;
• accredited foreign journalists.

All these categories of persons are also not required to comply with the self-isolation regime of 14 days, if they do not show symptoms of
respiratory infection or fever.

Photo: Rodion Proca| Sputnik

Between September 25-27, Race for the Cure is organised all over Europe – the biggest sporting event for women’s health on the continent. Thousands of people gather in a symbolic race, wearing pink to help breast cancer organisations and hospitals to collect funds and raise awareness.

The race brings together survivors, family and friends. Survivors celebrate their victory over breast cancer, participants support their loved ones affected by the disease and commemorate loved ones who passed away. Every year, there are 500 000 new diagnoses and 130 000 people who die of breast cancer in Europe.

In 2020, Think Pink Europe announced 30 Races for the Cure with 300 000 participants in 22 European countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was taken to the next level: a digital Race for the Cure, where teams can register for a 3K walk or 5K run in their own neighbourhood, village or city, together with friends, family, colleagues, neighbours and connect to thousands of people.

This year, Moldova.org decided to join Race for the Cure and form its own team. Our team will run or walk 3 kilometres on Saturday, September 26, at 10 am, in support of women fighting breast cancer. With this gesture, funds for Run Pink Moldova are aimed to be raised, a community which organises recovery camps for survivors and supports women fighting breast cancer.

Anyone can join our team by making a donation here or registering for the race and joining our team (that includes a registration fee of 5 euro).

Due to the pandemic, a race cannot be organised. Therefore, every person who joins the cause is urged to run/walk in the city or village they are living in. “You are free to go wherever your feet take you, keeping in mind the corona guidelines that apply in your country or region. You can even run indoors on a treadmill or in the gym, as long as you join us all over Europe during the last weekend of September,” is mentioned on the event’s official website.

Photo: raceforthecure.eu