Four schools in the Republic of Moldova were equipped, for the first time, with dispensers with sanitary pads offered for free to girls. There were also set up a doctor’s office, a school psychologist’s office and a friendly classroom for studying subjects that develop life skills in adolescents. These measures, combined with educational-informative activities, contribute to creating a safe and friendly environment for the physical and psycho-emotional health of students, IPN reports.
The menstrual health and hygiene program is carried out by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the Youth Media Center and the Ministry of Education and Research, with the financial support of the UK and the Embassy of Sweden.
The pilot program runs from 2023 to 2024 in four schools across the country. These are “Mihail Sadoveanu” Theoretical High School in Hancesti municipality, “Mitropolit Nestor Vornicescu” Theoretical High School in Lozova village of Strasen district, “Ion Creangă” Secondary School in Ermoclia village of Stefan Vodă district, and “Ion Creangă” Theoretical High School in Causeni town.
Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun, during a visit to “Mihail Sadoveanu” High School in Hancesti, discussed the importance of this initiative with students and specialists of the institution. “We must admit that you are in a much more advantageous situation compared to other institutions. We have educational institutions where there is no soap, paper and sanitary facilities. You have gone much further and are an example in this regard. And at European level, you are quite progressive - I don’t know many countries where there are such conveniences in schools,” said the minister.
Natalia Plugaru, Deputy Representative of UNFPA Moldova, said that this is a new program in Moldova. “A school environment that offers favorable conditions for studying health education, access to the doctor’s and psychologist’s services, as well as dispensers with menstrual hygiene products for free are essential school interventions to ensure health, equal learning opportunities, to reduce school absenteeism. This is a new program in Moldova and we hope we will be able to replicate it in as many schools in the country as possible,” stated Natalia Plugaru.
UNFPA Moldova said the sanitary pad dispensers will be constantly replenished until the end of the current school year. In total, more than 700 girls from secondary and high school classes of the schools participating in the program will have access to menstrual hygiene products.
Along with the created infrastructure, training courses on the prevention of unwanted teenage pregnancies, bullying, menstrual hygiene, health services available for free to young people, the role of the optional discipline “Education for Health” and other important topics for development were organized for students and teachers/non-teaching staff of the four pilot schools within the program in the course of 2023.
