One year since its coming into force, the Law on the Personal Assistant is being applied all over the country. Executive director of “Motivatie” Association Igor Meriacre has told IPN that in the municipality of Chisinau alone, 30 personal assistants were employed last year, especially parents or relatives of persons who need care. A number of 600 personal assistants were hired all over the country, according to the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family.

“Another about 100 personal assistants will be employed in the municipality of Chisinau this year. The system must be yet strengthened. No system works well initially. The parents or relatives employed as assistants do not yet regard this work as a job where they must be responsible and must present reports,” said Igor Meriacre.

The director of “Motivatie” also said that in Moldova there is no database about the types of disability and severity degree and the real physical state of the person. Therefore, the exact number of persons with severe disabilities, who need the help of a personal assistant, is not known. “In the European countries, the necessity of personal assistants and the time during which they serve is decided by a commission consisting of several specialists. In Moldova, there are yet no such commissions,” stated Igor Meriacre.

Recently, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said the allowance for looking after persons with disabilities this year will be 600 lei, up 100 lei on 2013, and 700 persons will be hired as personal assistants. Speaking about the costs incurred by a person with severe disabilities, Igor Meriacre said that they need 1,000 lei and over for diapers and sanitary towels. Thirty diapers cost about 250 lei. If the person is in a serious state, 3-4 diapers are needed daily. But the disabled persons also need money for detergent and medicines.