Over 5,000 medics involved in the campaign „Healthy baby”

The main achievement of the national communication campaign „For a beautiful and healthy baby” is the significant increase of the number of pregnant women appealing to the doctor in the first pregnancy weeks and those who use folic acid and iron vitamins. The survey was made public of Thursday, June 22, at the evaluation press conference of the project. According to Galina Moraru, employee of the Mother and Child Medical Assistance Department of MSPS, in the first 6 months of the project, the number of pregnant women registered until 12th pregnancy week has increased up to 81%, compared to 69% in the same period of 2005. At the same time, the number of future mothers using drugs containing iron increased up to 88%, and up to 76% – of those using folic acid. Due to the informing activities undertaken during the campaign, 91% of pregnant women were familiarized with the danger signs and the need to address to the doctor, compared to the last year, when only 59% knew this signs, Galina Moraru mentioned. According to the program coordinator within UNICEF representation, Lilia Jelamschi, the current information campaign was not a traditional one, it was especially based on interpersonal communication and mobilizing communities in supporting every pregnant woman. Thus, for the first time in Moldova the communication campaign was based on creating at community level of joint teams, composed of teachers, doctors, priests, high school pupils. They have contacted every women of reproductive age, providing her with the necessary information on healthy pregnancy. Teams’ members have organized different activities directed to preventing and reducing maternal and infantile death rate. 6 months ago, when the campaign was launched, 5,000 medical workers of the country and 15 employees of the hotline within MSPS were trained and mobilized to spread campaign’s messages. The National Communication Campaign „ Healthy Baby” was organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MSPS), with the support of UNICEF in Moldova and Switzerland Development and Cooperation Department.