Ten Roma communities to have socio-sanitary mediators

Ten Roma communities in Moldova will have socio-sanitary mediators. These have been trained as part of the UNFPA project “Promotion of Access to Basic Service, Human Security and Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in Moldova,” Info-Prim Neo reports. The Romanies in Moldova face serious social problems. They became models of social exclusion and discrimination. Persons are needed to ensure the link between the Roma and the other ethnic groups, UNFPA program coordinator [Boris Galca said at a round table meeting]. [Cosmina Novakovici, independent consultant for the UNFPA], said that the poor quality of education, reduced access to health services and discrimination in all the spheres are the major problems encountered by the Roma. “The illiteracy rate in Schinoasa village, which is inhabited only by Romanies, has been 100% during the last 20 years and nobody works there. In Vulcanesti, which has a Roma population of 1,300, the doctor comes only six times a month and nobody has health policy there,” Cosmina Novakovici said. [Eudochia Saharneanu, of the State University’s Anthropology Quality Research Center], said that the legislation does not provide for the discrimination of the Roma, but owing to the different cultural views, they are discriminated at interpersonal level. [Vadim Pistrinciu, independent national expert], said that the local public authorities must take steps to develop socio-sanitary medication offices in the Roma settlements so as to improve access to public services. According to the population census taken in 2004, there are 12,200 Romanies in Moldova, who make up 0.45% of the population. Unofficial reports say yet the Romanies number about 150,000. The US$62,208 project had been implemented during January-December this year.