Forty of the 171 schools and 18 of the 157 kindergartens of Chisinau do not have sanitary authorizations. The same is true about 81.5% of the canteens managed by education divisions. The figures were presented in a roundtable meeting at the municipal Public Health Center, IPN reports.

Iurie Cojocaru, division head at this institution, said that many of the schools and kindergartens haven’t signed contracts with laboratories for testing the quality of products. Also, there are no separate areas for preparing food.

Iurie Cojocaru stated that for the situation to change, it is recommended additionally training the cooks working for education institutions. Sanitary inspections must be carried out quarterly, while the schools and kindergartens should be supplied with hot water.

Chief sanitary doctor of Chisinau municipality Luminita Suveica said that things cannot be changed overnight, but solutions should be swiftly provided so as to deal with the hygienic and sanitary problems.

The Public Health Center of Chisinau municipality made these suggestions after 10 cases of acute diarrhea were reported at a municipal kindergarten. The disinfection and hygiene regime wasn’t respected there. Six children were taken to the hospital. The kindergarten’s director and chief cook were fined between 1,400 and 2,000 lei.