UNFPA, 5 october 2010 - UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has donated two advanced ambulances/mobile clinics to the Ministry of Health to be offered to the National Calamity Medicine Center. This donation was granted in the context of UNFPA assistance to the Government of the Republic of Moldova after floods struck last summer.  

Worth to be mentioned is that, according to the strategy for recovery and reconstruction of the health sector in affected areas, the redressal and modernization of the physical infrastructure of healthcare facilities, human resources ensurance, medical equipment and medical transport is necessary. 

Land Rover Defender ambulances were made in the UK in 2010 and have 4x4 technical parameters enabling access to areas affected by natural disasters. “These units of transport will allow the delivery of high quality medical assistance to a larger number of persons affected by calamities, especially pregnant women and children. The ambulances will be used for medical evacuation in cases of emergency, especially in cases of childbirths and other obstetric and reproductive health emergencies”, said Francois Farah, UNFPA Country Director for Moldova based in Bucharest.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, together with other donors and development partners, responded quickly to calamity, in early hours of flooding, by providing essential hygiene products and lavage sets, as well as medical equipment sets to maternity hospitals from all eight districts affected by the natural disaster.

According to the administration of the National Scientific-Practical Center for Emergency Medicine /National Calamity Medicine Center, the availability of medical equipment, especially of transport units with greater haulage capacity, represents a sine qua non for coping with emergency situations.  

The ambulances were bought by the United Nations Population Fund through UNFPA Humanitarian Assistance Department and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the costs amounting to approximately USD 70,000.

Mr.Vladimir Hotineanu, Minister of Health, Mr. Francois Farah, UNFPA Country Director and Mr. Boris Galca, Deputy UNFPA Representative Moldova participated in the event.

UNFPA donated last year two ambulances to the Ministry of Health, in the context of assistance for natural disasters (floods) that occurred in the summer of 2008. Thus, the Center has now four ambulances that are equipped with modern medical equipment aimed at facilitating quick and qualitative interventions in emergency situations or natural disaster for providing promptly medical services or the evacuation of the population from affected areas.

UNFPA has recently participated in the evaluation of the impact of flooding upon the healthcare system and in the redressal of healthcare infrastructure for ensuring a high quality access of population to healthcare services in affected areas. This action is part of the UN, donor community, international bodies’ response to the Republic of Moldova Government’s request of receiving support for attenuating the consequences of flooding.