The youth organizations PAS Youth and Tinerii DA, of the Party “Action and Solidarity” and the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth”, launched a campaign entitled “Paper and soap” through which they want to press the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research to assure minimum hygiene conditions in each school, IPN reports.

Members of the two organizations aim to collect over 1,000 signatures in favor of supplying each school with toilet paper, soap, biodestructive substances and hand dryers. They also demand to work out sanitary regulations for general education institutions by the model of the regulations for early education institutions.

Eugen Sinkevich, of PAS Youth, made reference to a study conducted by the Public Health Center, which says that one in ten education institutions do not meet the minimum sanitary norms, especially in regions, where the toilets are outside. Another study carried out by UNICEF shows that only 74% of education institutions have lavatories in eateries, while 24% have lavatories in WCs. According to a recent online questionnaire managed by the Children’s Platform, 70% of the respondents said there is no soap at the school, while 60% gave grades of 1 to 4, on a scale of 0 to 10, to the toilets.

“This campaign is necessary as the problem of hygiene in the Republic of Moldova is serious. The hygiene is not a whim. It is an obligation of the Government. The hygiene and health are priceless. These are a minimum that should be ensured. Financial resources would be found if there was wish,” stated Eugen Sinkevich.

Tinerii DA head Dinu Plangau said the given plan can be implemented swiftly if the authorities show such an interest.

Last October, a group of parents protested in Chisinau, demanding to ensure decent hygiene conditions for children in kindergartens. Later, the Chisinau Municipal Council approved the allocation of 2 million lei for providing the education institutions with hygiene products.