In Moldova, the right of each person to sexual and reproductive health services will be fully ensured by 2022, in accordance with the national program designed for the purpose, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Svetlana Cebotari stated in the national dialogue on sexual and reproductive health and rights. According to the official, the women’s health will be improved and the maternal death rate and child mortality in the period immediately after birth will be reduced, IPN reports.
The program envisions increased access for women to all the methods of protection and ensuring of reproductive health. Emphasis will be laid not only on young women as until now, but on the women of all ages. “There are problems on particular health segments among persons with different deficiencies. We aim to strengthen practically all the segments of information and sexual education,” stated Svetlana Cebotari.
UNFPA Representative to Moldova Rita Columbia said the Republic of Moldova is among the first countries in Europe that adopted a national program on sexual and reproductive health and rights for the next few years. Sixteen European states pledged to contribute to improving the situation in reproductive and sexual health, but do not yet have national programs. “These programs are designed to save lives, to improve the population’s welfare and promote gender equality and are based on the human rights,” stated Rita Columbia.
The national program on sexual and reproductive health and rights for 2018-2022 was approved by the Cabinet on May 16. It is designed to cope with the demographic problems and is based on four pillars: improvement of the population’s access to sexual and reproductive health services; improvement and provision of information about prophylaxis and the actions that maintain sexual and reproductive health.
The program has a budget of over 45 million lei. The Government of Moldova will allocate over 33 million lei. 6.5 million lei will come from the mandatory health insurance funds, while the rest will be allocated by foreign partners.
