KNOCK KNOCK… WHO’S THERE?

The Ministers of Health, Education and Social Protection!

Thursday, September 24, 2009… Wow! What an incredible day was had by our team!  We had meetings with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health (one day prior to his official appointment), and we were introduced to the Minister of Social Protection.  As we have previously reported, this is a time of change in Moldova and we were on the ground level as the country is building its infrastructure.  The team this year has worked with people, programs and policies.

We’ll begin with our morning activities… a round table discussion held around a long rectangular table.  Beverly Kropp, special educator, and Cyndi Robinson, team leader, met with representatives from the Ministry of Education, heads of various government education agencies, as well as administrators and clinicians from the Rehabilitation Center for Children to discuss implementation of the new governmental regulation for inclusion of children with disabilities in the public school system.  Flash back to the early 1970’s in the US when children with disabilities were often institutionalized and did not attend public schools.  Beverly, our very humble team member, offered “what she could,” which included her perspective based on her experience in special education as a teacher, administrator and collaborator over almost 4 decades in the state of Oregon.  She expressed that inclusion is an evolutionary process which requires changes in attitudes and systems including teacher education, curriculum development, architectural changes, etc.  Equally, the people from Moldova offered perspectives from their respective agencies.  They described what has been done, as well as the future challenges they perceive.  Following this meeting, the top administrators present at the meeting expressed that the information provided by Beverly opened the first discussions between these Moldovan agencies.

Flash forward to the late afternoon…  Cyndi Robinson, Meryl Gersh, PT and Margaret Miller, OT were summoned from their clinical sites to a meeting with the soon to be appointed Minister of Health.  Dr. Vladimir Hotineanu opened the meeting with a brief commentary about the April elections in Moldova which were followed by public rioting.  The outcome of the subsequent “re-do” of the election held in late July presents an opportunity for change in Moldova by a more consensus driven government.  Cyndi, Meryl and Margaret identified opportunities to improve rehabilitation services in Moldova on a systems level.  Recommendations included development of a rehabilitation center, individualized rehabilitation programs, early intervention, multidisciplinary team management, and support for training of in-country specialists.  The Minister engaged us in conversation and demonstrated a genuine understanding and interest in the proposed ideas.  The Minister demonstrated a good grasp of interdisciplinary rehabilitation and shared a focus on reducing disability and improving participation.  He acknowledged the need for international consultation in order to develop the Moldovan health care system to international standards.  Dr. Hotineanu was officially appointed to the office of Minister of Health on Friday, September 25, 2009.

There is the old saying, “Sometimes it is not what you know in life, but who you know.”  We are fortunate to be aided by our in-country hosts and by the professional relationships developed since Cyndi first traveled on a team to Moldova in 2003.

Today was our final day working in the clinics… for now.  I have to say that I am thrilled and amazed by the accomplishments our team experienced this year.  Physical rehabilitation is being provided in ICU and acute care settings.  Dramatic changes to the system of rehabilitation are being considered at institutional and governmental levels.  Planning for the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools is taking place at a multi-institution level.  And we have been invited to teach in the Physical Therapy Curriculum in Chisinau.  During wrap-up meetings, I met with each of the clinic directors in the facilities where we worked to outline teaching topics for 2010.  I look forward to returning to Moldova in July and September of 2010!  Cyndi

Now it is late and all the team has gone to bed.  We are happy, satisfied, and tired! 

Napta buna…