A regional maternal center was opened in Anenii Noi town on March 7. The center, which is a service for preventing the separation of the child from the family, will host six mother-child couples that were victims of domestic violence or trafficking in human being or that face financial problems. The service was set up within a public-private partnership between CCF/HHC Moldova, Kaufland Moldova and the local public authorities of Anenii Noi, IPN reports.

The beneficiaries of the center will enjoy accommodation, childcare counseling, individualized psychological, legal and social assistance that they need to cope with the difficulties. The mothers will be able to stay at the center for a year. In the period, they will have to find a job and a home.

According to secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbraveanu, the lodging of the mothers at the maternal center will be a first step towards an independent life in the community. If a year is not enough for the mothers to find a job or a place to stay, the period of stay at the center could be extended by half a year.

CCF Moldova programs coordinator Livia Margineanu said that by this service they will manage to ensure a family environment similar to that in a home because the goal of this service is to rehabilitate and reintegrate the families into the community. “We want these mothers to find their path in life on the very first day they will benefit from this service,” she stated.

The maternal center developed by CCF/HHC Moldova with the support of Kaufland will be managed by the local authorities of Anenii Noi, which are to ensure further financing for the center.

There are now 11 maternal centers in Moldova financed with state budget funds. Two of these are national centers, while nine are regional ones.