The National Roma Center in Moldova proposes institutionalizing the Roma socio-sanitary mediators. “The socio-sanitary mediators now work as volunteers, but they should be recognized officially,” the Center's director Nicolae Radita said at a meeting of representatives of the Roma community with Liliana Palihovici, the head of the parliamentary commission for social protection, health and family. The social and sanitary mediators working in the Roma settlements represent a link between the Romanies and the basic services. “We could follow the example of such countries as Romania, where the mediators have been institutionalized and are paid,” Radita said. The discussions were held as part of a meeting centering on the educative-informative activities carried out by the socio-sanitary mediators in a number of Roma settlements in Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communique from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Among the most serious problems faced by the Roma in Moldova are the difficulties in communicating with the rest of the population and the limited access to public healthcare and education services owing to the discriminatory attitude and the existent linguistic and cultural barriers. “Many times, the Roma women do not seek medical assistance even in cases of birth as they do not trust the doctors or because they don't know Romanian. The lives of the mother and child can be in danger. The Roma socio-sanitary mediators help the Romanies overcome these problems,” socio-sanitary mediator working in Mingir village of Hancesti district Elena Caldararu said at the meeting. The mediators also spoke about the families with many children. Svetlana Imanverdieva from Soroca town related the case of a woman with six children, where the parents do not work, the mother does not have a health policy and the children do not benefit from social assistance. ”All the families with many children are in a difficult situation in Moldova, especially in the Roma villages, where the people do not have access to the labor market. We want to be helped and to benefit from equal rights and opportunistic,” she said. In this connection, Liliana Palihovici said that under the legislation, the families with seven children are entitled to free health policy and social assistance, but the laws should be reviewed. “We think that the social assistance should be offered to the families with five children and more. Most of the families with many children encounter difficulties. That's why we must provide support and ensure decent living conditions for them,” said Liliana Palihovici. The meeting participants also discussed the role of the socio-sanitary mediator in the education of the Roma children. It was mentioned that 74 Roma children went to school in Hancesti town owing to the efforts made by the mediators. The assessment meeting organized by UNPFA brought together socio-sanitary mediators from eight settlements inhibited mainly by Romanies and representatives of the coordination team of the information campaign for Roma “Don't Forget! Your Health Means Your Family's Health!”. The campaign forms part of the Promoting Access to Basic Services, Human Security and Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in Moldova Project implemented with support from the Government of Romania and the UNFPA in Moldova. The census taken in 2004 showed that the Romany people make up 0.4% of Moldova's population, totaling over 12,000. According to unofficial reports, the Romanies number up to 150,000 in Moldova.