WHO donation of teaching materials and manikins to promote children's breastfeeding

The Department of Family Medicine of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy received a batch of teaching materials and simulation equipment for the training of students from the undergraduate Nursing study program under "Promotion of breastfeeding" module and of family doctors under continuing medical education programs. 

Daniela Madan, representative of the World Health Organization Office the Republic of Moldova (WHO Moldova), mentioned that the donation was offered in order to support the institutional partnership and the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding of children, as well as its advantages. The donation includes two breastfeeding counseling manikins, breast replicas to demonstrate the processes of pregnancy and breastfeeding, a mechanical breast pump model and another fabric model. The WHO Moldova delegate emphasized that, if the simulation equipment proves its usefulness, the University representatives could request other similar sets. 

Professor Ghenadie Curocichin, head of the Department of Family Medicine, has mentioned that these materials will be used to train and improve the practical skills of students and health workers, and to increase breastfeeding capacities among mothers. Educational materials will help promote breastfeeding, encouraging mothers to choose breastfeeding as a priority to protect their children's health and well-being. 

"Recently, there is a new trend among young mothers who abandon the process of breastfeeding their newborns, which requires medical personnel, family doctors, pediatricians, neonatologists to take action and establish directions to promote breastfeeding" , Professor Curocichin emphasized. In this context, the head of the department appreciated the support of the WHO, stressing the need for these educational materials not only for students and family doctors, but also for resident doctors from the Pediatrics specialty. 

The goods were sent on March 4, 2024, as part of the partnership between WHO Moldova, the Nursing Association of the Republic of Moldova and Nicolae Testemitanu University.