UNDP donated protective equipment to the penitentiary system and forensic doctors

April 22, 2020

Photo-symbol: National Administration of Penitentiaries

UNDP Moldova donated a batch of 400 protective gowns to the Center of Forensic Medicine and the National Administration of Penitentiaries (NAP). The equipment will help protect prison staff and forensic doctors against COVID-19 infection. The donation supplements another batch of 80 gowns, delivered by UNDP to the penitentiary system on April 9.

"The equipment donated by UNDP will be transmitted to the forensic doctors and forensic psychiatrists throughout the country and will be used for the protection of the personnel who is involved in the examination of certain cases with presumptive or confirmed infection with COVID-19," said Andrei Pădure, deputy director of the Center of Forensic Medicine.

"These gowns will help us to protect to a greater extent both the employees and the persons deprived of their liberty, so as to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 infection in detention facilities. The equipment will be distributed to all prisons and subdivisions subordinated to the National Administration of Penitentiaries, to be used in the fight with this global challenge,” said Vladimir Cojocaru, acting director of the NAP.

Since the first days of the outbreak, UNDP supports the Republic of Moldova as part of the joint response of the UN and development partners to the crisis generated by the COVID-19 infection. UNDP works with national authorities to assist in the procurement of essential medical equipment and devices. UNDP also supports the assessment of the country's long-term recovery needs.

The first case of COVID-19 was registered in the Republic of Moldova on March 7, and since then 2614 cases have been confirmed.