The extension of the early intervention service at the national level will enable to monitor and swiftly detect children with disabilities so that their families could be offered assistance. In the national conference “Progress and prospects of implementing the Early Intervention Service in Childhood in the Republic of Moldova”, organized by the Early Intervention Center “Voinicel”, the Center’s executive director Ivan Puiu said the empathy for children with disabilities is very important so that these do not lose hope. The family of a child with disabilities often needs more assistance than the child, especially psychological and informational support, IPN reports.

According to Ivan Puiu, without well-informed parents, appropriate results cannot be achieved in the development of children with disabilities. The involvement of children in ordinary daily activities helps these acquire the necessary life habits. On May 30, the Board of the Ministry of Health decided to extend the early intervention service to all the districts until the start of 2018. For the purpose, there will be set up mobile interdisciplinary teams that will assist children with physical and cognitive impairments.

Deputy Minister of Health Liliana Iasan said the development of the early intervention service at the national level does not necessitate a lot of money. The problem resides in the lack of specialists, especially in villages, where, in the absence of pediatricians, the family doctors are not always able to cope with the task of detecting promptly a disability that requires early intervention.

Valentina Stratan, deputy head of the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family, said each child should grow up healthily and effort should be made to prevent severe disabilities. Some of the local social services were transferred under the management of the local public authorities, but the latter do not possess money to ensure their functionality. “We will do our best for decision-makers to ensure state financing for these services,” stated Valentina Stratan.

Parents who are beneficiaries of “Voinicel” Center spoke about their experiences and expressed their recognition to specialists who contributed to the integration of their children into mainstream education.

The conference organized by the Early Intervention Center “Voinicel” was staged within the project “Consolidating an inclusive and democratic system of early intervention services for children with disabilities in the Republic of Moldova” that is financed by AHEAD-Moldova/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.