Television helps parents realize dangers to which children are exposed

The television helps the parents to realize the dangers to which their children are exposed daily at home and on the street. Stella Jemna, producer and presenter of the program “Parents and Children” that is broadcast on the public TV channel “Moldova 1”, has told Info-Prim Neo that the program presents new communication and care techniques based on the advice of such specialists as doctors, social workers and psychologists. The project “Parents and Children” was designed based on statistical data about accidents involving children, including domestic ones. According to the data of the Health Ministry’s National Center for Health Management for 2011, 90 children need medical care in Moldova daily. The cases include traumas, poisoning, burns, electrocutions, drownings and road accidents. “These data show that the parents do not consider it necessary to re-outfit the house when the children grow and do not pay much attention to their dangerous behavior. This can lead to accidents. The aim of the project is to inform the parents about the existing risks and how they can be removed,” said the producer of the program. The program has three divisions. “At the conscientious parents’ home” gives examples of parents who made their homes safe for children. The other two divisions focus on advice given by psychologists and doctors. “The advice is given by qualified psychologists given that we face problems related to the communication between parents and children in Moldova. The best doctors explain different themes of interest for parents,” said Stella Jemna. Several editions of the program involved families from the districts of Falesti, Leova, Hancesti, and Telenesti. Visits are planned to all the country’s districts. “By the example of families who adopt strategies that are worth being followed in child education, we want to share the good practices as regards looking after children and avoiding risky situations,” stated the producer. Stella Jemna also said that the program is popular. The parents call and say that they liked what they saw and many of them ask for the phone numbers of specialists to contact them. “I cannot yet say that we managed to inform the over 200,000 parents who bring up children younger than five, who are the most exposed to accidents. We have reached the figure of 40,000 TV viewers, but I hope that the program will become more popular among parents so that we have feedback at every program,” said the presenter. “Parents and Children” is intended for the over 200,000 parents who raise children younger than five, but also for the future parents who can be informed about the domestic accidents in which the small children can be involved. The program is produced within the REPEMOL project “Regionalization of pediatric emergency and intensive care services in the Republic of Moldova” of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation that is implemented by the Center for Health Polices and Services, in partnership with the Health Ministry.