Medical students showing solidarity for health

Mission accomplished: 6000 masks and leaflets distributed in 31 localities of the country. This is the outcome of our information campaign The virus has not disappeared! Together we can stop the pandemic!, conducted between February 1 and March 28, 2021, by students and resident doctors of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, members of the Association of Medical Students and Residents of Moldova (ASRM). 40 young doctors traveled, as volunteers, to the localities of the country and informed the population about the observance of the measures to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Protective masks have been provided by the Representation of the World Health Organization in our country. Through direct dialogue and disseminated informative materials, young volunteers urged people to sanitize their hands, to avoid crowded places, to properly wear the face mask, to isolate themselves in case of contact with the virus, to respect the social distance, etc. The medical students have also explained that vaccination against COVID-19 is the optimal solution to reduce the disease rate and the risk of developing a serious form of disease.

Gheorghe Buruiană, the president of ASRM, mentioned that the doctors joined the national communication efforts in order to promote the infection prevention measures and that the ingenuity of the volunteers in the discussion with the locals had a positive impact on receiving the campaign message. ”As feedback on the project, I understood that the majority of the population wants to be vaccinated (depending on the type of vaccine). Talking to people and informing them was an appropriate and very efficient way", said the leader of the student organization. In this context, the president thanked the volunteers who participated in this project and demonstrated social responsibility and dedication.

The information campaign participants are: Olga Clipii, Rodion Cujba, Dumitrita Nichiforeac, Dorin Paiul, Maria-Magdalena Pojoga, Domna Chiriac, Gloria Cazac, Irina Boico, Daniela Chistol, Cristina Grajdean, Aurelia Cimpoi, Emanuela Ghidion, Petru Dodita, Mariana Pituscan Adrian Scutari, Dima Cartaleanu, Ion Ciobanu, Eugen Valic, Maria Vizitiu, Diana Ungureanu, Vladislav Vlad, Ana-Maria Mereuta, Tatiana Grigoriev, Gabriela Hosman, Nicoleta Ivaschiv, Maria Ciobanu, Daniela Gamureac, Nicoleta Pricop, Adrian Vicol, Adelina Negruta, Otilia Gulii, Serafima Ambros, Victoria Siminciuc, Anastasia Tcaci, Nicoleta Botnar, Pavel Chisaru, Nicoleta Praguza, Madalina Triboi, Anisia Bassarab, and Alexandru Ciocan.

During the two months, the future doctors and pharmacists conducted information actions in the following cities and towns: Briceni, Ocnita, Edinet, Donduseni, Riscani, Drochia, Balti, Falesti, Balti, Singerei, Floresti, Telenesti, Calarasi, Orhei, Nisporeni, Criuleni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Anenii Noi, Causeni, Cimislia, Leova, Cantemir, Cahul, and Vulcanesti and in the villages: Taul, Mihailesti, Valea Perjei (Cimislia district), Fetita, Sarata-Galbena, and Manta.

The campaign took place under COVID-19 pandemic control program Solidarity for Health, intended for the Eastern Partnership countries, supported by the WHO Office in the Republic of Moldova and the European Union.

We would like to mention that, with the establishment of the epidemiological situation in our country, medical students have shown maximum responsibility and mobilization, engaging as nurses and getting actively involved in numerous volunteer actions, thus providing support to medical institutions in the fight against COVID -19.