In the period of June 6-11, 2010, national trainers in the field of Reproductive Health and Family Planning, previously trained with the support of UNFPA, participated in an advanced training course. This time they were provided with news on modern techniques of counseling in the field, modern contraception technology, role of family physicians in addressing cases of domestic violence and modern applications for the management of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

Training-specialists from both sides of the Nistru River participated in the advanced training course. For the first time, all three generations of national trainers in RH/FP, previously trained by UN Population Fund in 1995, 2002 and 2006, were brought together. The course was organized in partnership and with direct support from the Ministry of Health.

The seminar provided participants with valuable experience, since it reunited all three generations of trainers and had as moderators international experts in Reproductive Health and Family Planning –  Dr. Katy J. Shroff (Great Britain) and Mihai Corciova (Romania). As Dr. Simion Sirbu, one of the participants in the training remarked “such advanced training courses are extremely important for national trainers, since they help them evaluate their knowledge, exchange experience and become more qualified”. According to international standards in the field, national trainers need such refresher trainings once every five years. 

The training aimed at refreshing trainers’ knowledge, but also at developing new skills. Their level of awareness on youth-friendly healthcare services, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, etc. was raised, so that afterwards they could train other healthcare workers in Reproductive Health. In the next two years, the 21 qualified trainers will train approximately 400 family physicians and 4000 family nurses from all districts of the Republic of Moldova, including the transdniestrian region. Ten six-day training workshops have already been planned for this year. According to the Annual Work Plan signed between UNFPA and the Ministry of Health, it is estimated that approximately 250 primary healthcare workers will be trained in 2010.   

“It has been a pleasure facilitating this training together with my colleague. The participants worked a lot, and their skills and quality as trainers are extraordinary. The role of trainers is extremely important – they train family physicians. Without training evolution in medicine is impossible”, mentioned the expert Dr. Katy J. Shroff.

UNFPA, UN Population Fund, is the only international development agency that offers training opportunities to family physicians and family nurses in the field of Reproductive Health and Family Planning. In the Republic of Moldova, by the end of 2012, with technical support from UNFPA, the entire primary healthcare staff will be trained in the above mentioned filed. “We will continue to support the development of integrated reproductive health services from both sides of the Nistru River, both at the level of training, as well as of providing necessary family planning products. We will support the efforts of the Ministry of Health in rendering Reproductive Health services of excellence”, mentioned in this context Boris Galca, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Moldova.