The Government of Japan offered Moldova medical equipment for intensive care units and equipment for the national network of laboratories and the mobile laboratory of the National Public Health Agency. The donated reagents and consumables will help to detect biological dangers and risks in any region of the country if need be, said the director of the National Public Health Agency Nicolae Jelamski, being quoted by IPN.
The functionary stated that owing to the support of the Government of Japan and the World Health Organization, the mobile laboratory became functional. The laboratory was outfitted with equipment for testing extremely contagious infections. Until now, this was used on a stationary basis at the Agency, for domng PCR tests for COVID-19. In September, specialists and technicians of the laboratory were trained by experts of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) to work in a mobile lab and were familiarized with the new work methods.
“With an operational laboratory, the Republic of Moldova, through the agency of the National Public Health Agency, became a full-fledged member of the GOARN network. This enables the Republic of Moldova to become part of the international mechanism of response to hotbeds of infectious diseases that mobilize resources from institutions and multidisciplinary networks, with the containing of diseases and minimizing of morbidity and mortality through the hotbed being among the main objectives,” said the Agency’s director.
Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco noted that the donation comes to strengthen the national health system’s technical capacities. The mobile laboratory that meets all the necessary conditions, provided with reagents, equipment and trained personnel, enables the specialists in Moldova to intervene in any case of epidemiological danger, in case of biological public health emergencies and to strengthen the capacities of the national network of laborites.
Japan’s Ambassador to Moldova Yoshihiro Katayama said the Government of Japan sent three delegations of specialists and doctors to Moldova to determine the country’s needs. Based on the obtained results, the Government of Japan came with a prompt decision to offer financial support. A large part of these resources were provided to international organizations, given that each international organization can come up with swift and suitable actions.
“The equipment donated today was selected by experts of the World Health Organization. We would like these resources to be used by health workers in Moldova with maximum efficiency. This donation confirms the strong friendly relations that exist and will continue existing between Moldova and Japan,” noted the diplomat.
Owing to this non-reimbursable financial assistance totaling 1 billion yen (about €8m) offered by the Government of Japan, five public medical institutions in Moldova will benefit from medical devices. These institutions are: the Emergency Medicine Institute, the National Clinical Hospital “Timofei Moșneaga”, the Mother and Child Institute, the Oncological Institute and the Municipal Clinical Hospital “Saint Trinity”.
