An Epidemiology Training Center was inaugurated at “Nicolae Testemitanu” University

Public health specialists have a crucial role in monitoring and evaluating communicable and non-communicable disease surveillance indicators to determine the epidemiological situation at the national level. To ensure their multilateral training, an Epidemiology Training Center was inaugurated at the Epidemiology Discipline within the Preventive Medicine Department of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova. The event took place on April 25, 2023.

The center was equipped with 15 computers, 3 interactive whiteboards, 3 LED TVs and 7 IT sets with the financial support of the European Union and the World Health Organization. Beneficiaries of the Center will be the students of the faculties of Medicine and Stomatology, including those studying at the Public Health and Preventive Medicine programs, the resident doctors, as well as the medical personnel involved in the continuing medical education process, who will have the possibility to enhance their theoretical and practical knowledge in the field.

"The epidemiology training center will allow real-time monitoring of the immunization process, rapid detection and qualitative investigation of cases, which will also contribute to the application of rapid response measures for the prevention and control of communicable diseases," emphasized Associate Professor Angela Paraschiv, head of the Epidemiology Discipline, Department of Preventive Medicine, Nicolae Testemitanu University.

"Currently we have a strong partnership with Nicolae Testemitanu University, especially with the Discipline of Epidemiology. This training center creates an element of interest for future specialists, being in line with the priorities of the national health system. The major objective of the "European Moldova 2023" National Development Strategy is digitization. In this context, in 2022 the government established the Information System for the Surveillance of Communicable Diseases and Public Health Events", stated Svetlana Nicolaescu, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.

For her part, Victoria Neaga, the representative of the European Union Delegation in the Republic of Moldova, emphasized the fact that the people she met here, students and scientific and teaching staff, impressed her more than the equipment of the center.

In the same vein, the First Vice-Rector Olga Cernetchi, Vice-Rector for Didactic Activity of Nicolae Testemitanu University, mentioned that "the established partnership brings nice results, one of which is the creation of this center, of real use for the Epidemiology Discipline. Regarding medical training, the study programs have been aligned to the requirements of the EU Directive on the recognition of titles and qualifications in the medical system. Certain changes are still needed in the residency area to be completely included in this system. The Center offers numerous opportunities to the University beneficiaries and, certainly, the Department's collaborators will soon demonstrate remarkable results".

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy offers quality study programs for the training of Public Health specialists in the field of epidemiological surveillance and the strengthening of immunization services. The discipline of epidemiology annually trains around 1200 students and resident doctors.

The inauguration of the epidemiology training center is part of the activities planned under the EU-WHO regional project aiming to support the vaccination process in the countries of the Eastern Partnership.