When refugees fleeing war in neighbouring Ukraine arrived at the Moldovan border, they were immediately welcomed by the government and host population. Since February 2022, over a million refugees have crossed the border into Moldova, needing shelter, food and healthcare. Although many of those people have moved on to third countries or returned to Ukraine, over 100 000 refugees remain in the countries.
For the Moldovan health system, responding to the health needs of refugees was a significant undertaking, particularly given its existing challenges. One of the smallest countries in the European region many of its health workforce, leaving significant gaps. The health system was still recovering from responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the Moldovan health sector is known for its professionalism and resilience. The Ministry of Health worked swiftly to implement an emergency plan which allowed Ukrainian refugees to access the same level of care as Moldovan citizens. WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova was able to offer its expertise and experience working in emergency humanitarian settings to ensure that the health workforce had the right skills and systems in place to ensure that they could respond to surge needs.
This film introduces us to the health actors and patients who have been involved in the health response. Hearing their perspective, sentiments and achievements, we witness the dedication, commitment and perseverance shown by those involved in this enormous mission.
Find out more: www.who.int/republic-of-moldova
18 июн 2024
