A number of 300 women and men over the age of 65 from the Republic of Moldova received packages of hygienic products and essential food, as well as information materials on protection measures against COVID-19, as part of an action launched by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the UNFPA Moldova.
Older persons will also receive emotional support from a team of 15 young volunteers from Youth Centers and the National Youth Council Network. This action is fostering social cohesion and intergenerational dialogue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It supports the national response efforts to protect the older people, including through the involvement of the younger generation.
According to UNFPA, young people have enormous potential in the use of information technologies, but also other creative resources, which can support the response measures against COVID-19. The 15 young volunteers will communicate with the older people over the phone to inform about the protection measures against COVID-19 and to provide emotional support during the social isolation period. Young people will receive guidance in this regard from experienced psychologists from the Republic of Moldova.
UNFPA selected districts and localities based on an analysis of the number of people over the age of 65 living alone in the household. As a result, 16 more vulnerable localities were selected from the districts of Sangerei, Telenești, Rezina and Soldănești.
The selection of 300 people over the age of 65 was carried out in partnership with local bodies specializing in social assistance and family protection in the four districts and community social workers. Older persons will receive packages of essential products on the eve of the Easter holidays.
According to official statistics, there are currently more than half a million people living in the Republic of Moldova, over the age of 60 years. More than half of them are women and about 40% are households made up of lonely people.
