Women with reduced mobility from Chisinau, Cahul, Edinet, Hincesti, and Ungheni districts can now benefit from quality gynecological medical services. Accessible gynecological chairs, adapted for women with locomotor disabilities, older women, and those overweight, are available now at the Health Centers in these districts and the Center for Reproductive Health and Medical Genetics in Chisinau, IPN reports, quoting a press release of UNFPA.

The initiative to procure the adapted equipment belongs to a group of civic activists from the Diaspora. Supported by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), they organized a fundraising campaign among Moldovan citizens, managing to collect the necessary amount and purchase five modern armchairs, which provide women with disabilities access to quality sexual and reproductive health services.

The adapted gynecological coaches, from Italy, work based on a unique mechanism, which allows the adjustment of the equipment to each woman's needs. Thus, medical consultations become accessible and comfortable for both patients and the medical staff.

“Every woman has the right to a regular gynecological check-up, including access to cervical screening services. If an armchair is adapted for women with disabilities, it is very easy for both the patient and the gynecologist. Ideally, it would be good to have such multifunctional chairs in all family doctors' offices in the country,” said Tatiana Guțan, a gynecologist at the Health Center in Edineț.

Studies conducted in recent years show that, although there are still gaps in ensuring the right to sexual and reproductive health for women with disabilities, there have been several achievements in this area. “Over the last few years, we have found that medical institutions have become more accessible. They built ramps, adjusted their toilets. The doors are wider now, compared to past years, and more accessible for the strollers to enter the institution. Also, we make efforts to provide Reproductive Health Centres and Youth Friendly Health Clinics with the necessary equipment. The attitude of service providers towards people with disabilities has also improved,” said Victoria Ciubotaru, Coordinator of the National Program in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

About 175 thousand people with disabilities live in the Republic of Moldova, half of whom are women and girls. Most have disability acquired in their lifetime.