Since Putin’s Russian army invaded Ukraine earlier this year UNCG nurses have collaborated with the Nurses Association of the Republic of Moldova to help. During this refugee crisis, Moldova has received more Ukrainian refugees per capita than any other nation. A new program through the NC-Moldova Nursing Collaborative provides education for Moldovan nurses as they care for refugees.
One of the first Zoom webinars for these nurses, on March 10, focused on common infectious diseases, managing chronic conditions, special conditions for vulnerable populations, and unique needs of the refugee population.
Dr. Audrey Snyder, Professor and Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Innovation, was a presenter. Dr. Deborah Lekan and Dr. Nancy Hoffart, recently retired from the faculty, also spoke.
UNCG faculty Dr. Vadim Korogoda and Snyder are members of the collaborative; Hoffart and Lekan are co-chairs. Together with Moldovan nurses and administrators, they’ve held ten webinars, with topics ranging from Psychological First Aid to Hypothermia. Videos were shared with nurses in Ukraine.
“This morning was a humbling experience,” Snyder said after the first session “We hit the maximum Zoom webinar capacity at 500 attendees – although one Zoom site may have had a dozen health care providers together at one site to view.”
Snyder saw participants from throughout Moldova, All five colleges of nursing CNNC IMPACT UNCG’s Center for New North Carolinians grew out of a task force created by Chancellor in the Republic of Moldova were represented, as was the medical university. There were many hospitals and clinics represented. “Some of the different specialties that we were able to discern were gynecology, urology, pediatrics, cardiology, surgery, neurosurgery, perinatal, pulmonology, surgery, adolescent health, and others,” she said.
Korogoda, a School of Nursing clinical assistant professor with a nurse anesthesia focus, added, “The people in Moldova – including my family – are generous people and will help anyone in need, but they themselves have limited resources.” He believes these webinars have helped.
Additionally, the collaborative shipped a 40-foot container with medical supplies to Moldova in September to support care for refugees.
The collaborative’s work is supported by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant initiated by the Guilford Rotary Club in Greensboro, as well as the Matson Halverson Christiansen Hamilton Foundation. Translation at the sessions is supported by the Global Rural Nurse Exchange Network. UNCG’s School of Nursing, as well as the Guilford Rotary Club, has had a history of collaboration with Moldovan nurses. This program is another step in that collaboration.
By Mike Harris ’93 MA
Photo by Bumble-Dee/Depositphotos