UNICEF delivered a batch of personal protective equipment for front-line workers in the health care system, as well as for border police employees. Assistance includes 100,000 surgical masks, 20,000 visors, and 500,000 pairs of gloves. Most personal protective equipment will be made available to front-line medical personnel to protect them from the risk of COVID-19 infection.

The batch is offered as part of a project supported by the United Nations (UN) Trust Fund for Partners in Response to COVID-19, implemented by UNICEF, U.N. Women, and the International Organization for Migration. The project is worth $1 million and is funded by the governments of Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

“It is huge support given to the health system in our country to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical workers are at the forefront of the fight for patients’ lives. The equipment provides them with the necessary protection. I sincerely thank my partners for their involvement and collaboration,” said the Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection, Viorica Dumbraveanu.

“Frontline workers, whether in the health or other fields, are the backbone of an effective response to COVID-19,” said Desiree Jongsma, UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova. 

“We need to ensure their protection, as the courage of both the health workers and other front-line employees in the fight against COVID-19 is tremendous,” added Desiree Jongsma.

“The equipment will reach, first of all, the medical institutions that take care of children infected with COVID-19 and will supply their staff with protective equipment for six months,” said Mihai Ciocanu, director of the Institute of Emergency Medicine.

“This help is of major importance, as in our institution there are 724 medical workers, who provide medical care to patients with COVID-19. First of all, we need to protect the medical staff,” said Igor Curov, the director of the Institute of Emergency Medicine.

From the same batch of personal protective equipment, 20,000 masks and 80,000 pairs of gloves will reach the border police. Border Police employees provide essential services, interacting daily with thousands of people on Moldova’s borders and are at high risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. Every week, more than 40,000 people cross the border of Moldova.

In the coming months, UNICEF will continue to provide additional personal protective equipment for front-line workers in both health and other areas to ensure the efficient and safe provision of essential public services during the COVID-19 crisis.