Aretao, a Milford, New Hampshire consulting and training firm, is assisting the United States Embassy in Moldova during the initial phase of the new Moldova Community-based Health Care Initiative. The mission of this initiative is “to facilitate the development of a sustainable system of improved primary care and public education for common health issues in Moldova.”
Some of the issues to be addressed include improving access to basic primary health care and training residents in the use of low-cost and effectives methods of household water treatment and safe storage. Two thirds of the residents of Moldova presently do not have access to clean drinking water.
Dr. Dean Shankle, CEO of Aretao and a Fulbright Scholar, is assisting the initiative onsite during the initial steps, including writing job descriptions, identifying potential partners, and developing an outline of the deliverables that can be expected during the next two years. Part of the planning involves designing the initiative so it will be sustainable after this time.
Elizabeth Shankle, Aretao’s Director of Research, is providing research in such areas as best practices related to providing safe household drinking water, sanitation and primary care. Her work will lead to an online resource library that will be used throughout the life of the initiative.
Additional expertise and support for the health care initiative is being provided as needed by Aretao staff members. More information on the initiative and Aretao can be found at http://www.aretao.com.