A batch of basic consumables, hygiene products and disinfectants to the value of over 45,000 lei was provided to mothers with children in the custody of the Mother and Child Home of Penitentiary No. 16 Pruncul and Penitentiary No.7 Rusca and also to minor detainees. The donation was made in the framework of a program financed by USAID and implemented by UNICEF Moldova, IPN reports.

The donation forms part of the US$1.2 million assistance provided by the U.S. Government through USAID and is aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Moldova.

The assistance is designed to prevent and combat infections among children, carers and minors, including employees of the National Administration of Penitentiaries, so as to respond to the needs of the vulnerable groups and of those who face an increased risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, in an efficient, coordinated and prompt way.

“I express my gratitude to UNICEF and USAID for the support provided during this difficult period. These efforts will contribute to strengthening the resistance capacities of the penitentiary administration system and to promptly offering essential services that are so needed by mothers with children and minors in detention as the difficult period for the penitentiary system only starts after the state of emergency,” said acting director of the National Administration of Penitentiaries Vladimir Cojocaru, being quoted in a press release of UNICEF Moldova.

The donation will support women and minors given the vulnerability of the penitentiary environment and the necessity of ensuring their access to hygiene products during the COVID-19 pandemic.