About the project:
The project The best chance of life for neonates – improving neonatal outcome in the Romania-Republic of Moldova border area focused on strengthening crucial maternal and newborn health services across the Romania–Republic of Moldova border area. The initiative successfully addressed infrastructure deficiencies, modernized essential medical equipment, and elevated the professional capacity of the clinical staff. The core of the achievement was implementing a synchronized, cross-border approach where institutions in both Chișinău and Vaslui adopted common medical standards and coordinated protocols. This investment directly contributed to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, offering newborns the best chance for survival and health.
Project code: 1HARD 4/1/81
Financing programme: Joint Operational Programme Romania-Republic of Moldova ENI 2014-2020
Implementation period: 7 July 2022 – 31 December 2023
Budget: €1,635,610.49
KEY OBJECTIVES
- To rehabilitate and modernize key departments at the Institute of Mother and Child in Chișinău to meet current European medical standards.
- To equip Vaslui Emergency County Hospital and its partner institution with high-performance medical devices for neonatal and obstetric care.
- To enhance the professional skills and capacity of medical staff in both countries through joint training and workshops.
- To implement common medical standards and coordinated protocols for neonatal and maternal care across the border institutions.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Public Medical and Health Institution Mother and Child Institute – MD;
Vaslui County Emergency Hospital – RO.
KEY RESULTS
- Model Environment Created: The Newborn and Preterm Departments of the Institute of Mother and Child in Chișinău were fully rehabilitated and modernized.
- Technological Advancements: The Chișinău facility now features advanced medical gas systems, microbiologically pure water units, and climate-controlled Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), dramatically reducing infection risks.
- High-Performance Equipment: Vaslui Emergency County Hospital was equipped with state-of-the-art medical devices to directly support high-quality neonatal and obstetric care.
- Standardized Practice: The project introduced an integrated cross-border approach, ensuring both institutions apply standardized protocols supported by new equipment, which was a novelty for the region.
- Professional Networking: The project fostered continuous professional cooperation through joint training, workshops, and awareness caravans, creating a long-term network between Romanian and Moldovan healthcare teams.
- Sustainable Impact: The tangible, sustainable result is the direct contribution to lowering maternal and infant mortality and improving public health systems in the cross-border region.