Уникальная структура действует при Молдавской Экономической академии (ASE). Я говорю о Национальной ассоциации молодых менеджеров (ANTIM) и проводимом ими конкурсе на лучший бизнес-план среди молодежи и студентов. В этом году конкурс проводился уже в пятый раз.


Конкурс значительно более комплексный, чем большинство тренингов, которые проходят на экономических факультетах в наших вузах. Многоступенчатая организация (если заявка признается интересной, соискателей обучают основам аналитического подхода к бизнес-планированию и правильному составлению бизнес-планов). В жюри собраны представители самых разнообразных отраслей молдавского бизнес-сообщества, причем в нынешнем году члены жюри имели возможность комментировать свои оценки, начиная с первого этапа до финала. Логичная подсказка или критика могут помочь чуть перестроить стратегию и аргументацию «на ходу». На финальном этапе – личная презентация проекта. Но, каким бы он замечательным ни был на бумаге, расплывчатые ответы на вопросы могут свести все преимущества «на нет». В конце победителей и финалистов ожидают не оценки, а денежные и прочие призы. И, новинка нынешнего года, финалисты могут участвовать в международном конкурсе бизнес-планов, который проводит организация JCI (Junior Chamber International). В этом году он пройдет в турецкой Анталии.

На V конкурс было подано свыше 300 заявок, однако реальные макеты смогли представить 254 кандидата. Среди них была проведена селекция (также впервые жюри работало в режиме online). Оставшимся 35 полуфиналистам предложили представить развернутые проекты, в финал из них вышло семь.

Поговорим сначала о тех, кто не прошел. Год за годом наблюдая за этим проектом, хочу отметить реальный рост качества заявок. Неплохая проработка темы, финансовое планирование, анализы SWOT и конкурентной среды позволяют говорить о том, что создается слой молодых людей, по крайней мере, понимающих, с какой стороны подходить к бизнесу. Понятно, что далеко не все участники могут этим похвастаться, даже у финалистов случались и случаются такие проколы, что приходится просто улыбаться и делать поправку на возраст. Например, в нынешнем году авторы вполне симпатичного проекта «Пофтошел» (офисный кэтеринг) записали в возможное число потенциальных клиентов 300 тысяч кишиневцев. То есть продавцам кухонных плит и холодильников можно сворачивать бизнес: всех накормит «Пофтошел». С двумя водителями в штате.

К неудачным (но достаточно грамотно проработанным идеям) можно отнести четыре почти одинаковых «оруэлловских» проекта по размещению в маршрутках TFT-мониторов и DVD-плееров, с помощью которых предлагалось развлекать пассажиров рекламными роликами. Естественно, все эти проекты в полуфинал не прошли, однако заставили задуматься: не из кругов ли близких к примэрии такие идеи исходят?

Отмечу несколько интересных, на мой взгляд, проектов, не дошедших до финала. Постараюсь не выйти при этом за пределы сохранности коммерческой тайны. С другой стороны, честно говоря, хочется, чтобы «фабрика по производству проектов», чем на сегодняшний день является конкурс бизнес-планов, потихоньку становилась бы биржей, на которой потенциальные инвесторы могли бы приобретать как перспективные идеи, так и менеджмент для них - два в одном. Начну с подборки, посвященной детям. Вроде бы, в духе времени: сеть дошкольных учреждений начинает выбираться из тяжелейшего кризиса, появляются редкие-редкие площадки для отдыха и развлечений, то есть рынок только начинает создаваться. Санду Балтяну предлагает проект спортивного комплекса «Маленький Геркулес». Проект предусматривает комплексное физическое и умственное развитие детей от 3 до 16 лет и инвестиции в $ 440 530 с трехлетним периодом окупаемости.

Если „Геркулес” направлен на массовых любителей тенниса, бейсбола и пр., то проект Александрины Голуб „Happy Kindergarten” - на VIPов по разумным ценам. Речь идет о садике, в котором детей можно оставлять хоть на несколько часов, хоть на ночь под присмотром профессиональных воспитателей и нянь. В стране ничего подобного пока нет. Правда, и финансовые расчеты заставляют задуматься: инвестиции – 6 млн леев, годовой доход – 23,7 млн.

Симбиоз вышеуказанных идей - Family Sport Center Серджиу Гросу, с несколькими спортзалами различных направлений, двумя бассейнами, включая „лягушатник”, кинозалом, кафе для детей и родителей и пр.

Виолетта Мога предлагает проект детского ресторана „Happy Meal” с внешним интерьеров в виде веселого бургера. Тоже достаточно уникальная идея, которую стоило бы повнимательнее обдумать, ведь именно детских учреждений у нас нет за исключением одного (в тех местах). Правда, там тоже кормят бургерами. Виолетта подсчитала инвестиции - $ 600 000. Идею Марины Мелентьевой, интернет-портал www.moldfashion.com вполне можно запускать хоть сегодня. Такой информационный источник будет объединять всю «модную» сферу Молдовы и обозревать ее. И после некоторых усилий по раскрутке вполне может стать доходным интернет-проектом. Минимальная себестоимость продукта составляет 16 020 леев. Это сумма составлена из оплаты услуг программиста, хостинга, домена, Интернет-обеспечения и регистрации фирмы.

Очень на мой взгляд любопытный проект предлагает Маргарита Сарсова: производство бумажных стаканчиков. Они более эстетичны, более гигиеничны и более экологичны, чем пластиковые стаканчики, на них может быть нанесена символика предприятия, любая рекламная информация или просто красочный рисунок. На закупку оборудования и начало производства необходима совсем не запредельная сумма в 25 тыс. долларов.

К забавным можно отнести проект создания службы велотакси в Вадул луй Водэ. То есть вернуться к китайским рикшам, а уже оттуда, разогнавшись, осваивать IT-индустрию. В финал вышли, как уже упоминалось, семь проектов. Проект Анжелы Гертан предполагает производство одежды для беременных женщин с невысоким уровнем доходов. Инвестиции – 27 тыс. леев. Самое, наверное, большое оживление вызвал проект Думитру Лунгу по производству DVD-дисков из полилактовой кислоты, выделенной из кукурузы. Это технология, разработанная японской компанией Sanyo, противостоит она ныне распространенной технологии изготовления дисков из поликарбоната. Продукт получается экологически дружественный и полностью разлагается в течение 50-100 лет. Инвестиции – 2 млн евро, годовой объем продаж – 3,6 млн евро. Здесь можно отметить, что этот проект, в общем-то, «не студенческий», прошел в финал и занял третье место во многом благодаря очень грамотной проработке и качественной презентации. Думитру сообщил, что он уже третий раз принимает участие в конкурсе, что дало ему необходимый опыт подготовки проектов.

Интересный и явно требующий дальнейшей проработки проект по посадке ореховых плантаций с последующей переработкой, как плодов, так и листьев и древесины предложил Денис Мунтян. Действительно, пока к нему сложно найти финансирование: 175 тыс. долларов с учетом того, что плодоносить деревья начнут только через 4-5 лет.

Автор проекта Document management center по созданию и администрированию интернет-библиотеки Евгений Зинковский получил предложение продолжить свои разработки в бизнес-инкубаторе ASE.

Победителем стал проект по сбору и переработке пластиковых отходов. Его автор Виталие Семенчук получил первый приз – 2007 долларов от АКБ «Молдова-Агроиндбанк» и ООО «Микроинвест», а также ноутбук от «Риском компьютерс». Вторая и третья премии составили 1000 и 700 долларов, поощрительные премии финалистам – по $ 100.

Председатель жюри конкурса бизнес-консультант Лариса Бугаян отметила, что вокруг конкурса начала складываться сеть по поддержке начинающих предпринимателей. Будущие годы покажут, насколько эта сеть будет развиваться и эффективно работать по внедрению. Это было и остается главной задачей конкурса.

Brussels should give Moldova a clear perspective for future EU entry on the model of the Western Balkan states, Romanian president Traian Basescu said in the European Parliament on Wednesday (31 January) in a sign of how Europe's poorest state stands to benefit from the Bucharest lobby inside the EU.

"The people of Moldova susbcribe to European values. I'm not talking about the Republic of Moldova, but the values of the people of Moldova who feel extremely European," he said. "If we think of countries that have a European perspective we should think of Moldova and the Western Balkans."

The president showed sensitivity to Europe's current anti-enlargement climate by adding that "Romania absolutely agrees the EU's first priority is the constitutional treaty and institutional reform."

His aside about "the Republic" referred to Moldova president Vladimir Voronin's recent pro-Moscow swing.

But the linkage of Moldova with the Western Balkan countries - some of which are already EU candidates and all of which got a firm promise that their "future lies in the EU" at the December 2006 EU summit - runs counter to prevalent EU thinking on Moldova as a European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) state instead.

The ENP, which covers 19 countries in a ring stretching from Morocco to Belarus, gives zero promise of enlargement with EU-hopefuls such as Moldova or Ukraine seeing the policy as a 10-year or more waiting room before any talks on accession can even begin.

Moldova wants to break out of the ENP club by converting its current "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement" with the EU - which expires in mid-2008 - into a new "Association Agreement" with a declaration that gives clear commitments on future accession: a feat that Ukraine is also trying and failing to accomplish.

"We have to take one step at a time," Hans-Gert Poettering, the European Parliament president and self-proclaimed confidante of German leader Angela Merkel, said on Mr Basescu's ideas.

"We have to assist Moldova in moving along its European line. But we've got to bridge the next few years with a neighbourhood policy."

A Moldovan diplomat told EUobserver "we are not asking for detailed terms but we do want a clear perspective to be built into the commitments, " comparing his country to EU candidate Macedonia. "We have the same level of development, the territory is about the same size, the population is about the same size."

He acknowledged that Moldova's problem with Trasdniestria - a breakaway republic on its eastern border stuffed with Russian ammunition dumps and soldiers - will not make the EU any more keen to give acccession promises, but said an EU entry horizon "could help conflict resolution in this region."

Romania joined the EU in January 2007 in a move that has seen over half a million of Moldovans scramble to get Romanian (and so EU) citizenship, on the basis of the close historical ties between the two states: Moldova was part of Romania as recently as 1939.

"You know these people are really Romanians - they speak the same language, they have the same values. Moldova is still really part of Romania," a senior Romanian diplomat told EUobserver, with the two countries flirting with the idea of reunification in the early 1990s but with talks coming to nothing in the end.

"Romania will lobby relentlessly for Moldova's eventual accession to the EU despite an unfavourable climate in the EU toward further enlargement, offering to act as Moldova's 'advocate' in the EU and other international forums," CEPS analyst George Dura recently wrote.


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New “Youth in Action” programme stimulates young Europeans to become involved in the community
The Commission welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament, during its plenary session of 25 October, of the new ‘Youth in Action’ programme, the latest generation of the Commission’s youth programme. It covers the period 2007 - 2013. With its budget of 885 million euros, the Youth in Action programme is simpler and more flexible than its predecessor. It will be accessible to young people aged between 15 and 28 (13-30 for some specific actions), and is also open to a wider selection of partner countries.
Mr Ján Figel’, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism[1] said, “I am glad that this new Youth programme begins as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Union, and I notice that it addresses the first generation of young people that has grown up after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This new programme aims at encouraging young people to work together to acquire new skills through non-formal education activities, for a common project, for the defence of cultures, for a future of prosperity, understanding and peace. It fosters the idea of belonging to the European Union, and promotes social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, both inside and outside Europe. Since young people represent 20% of Europe’s citizens, they are called to play a more active role; this programme gives them the opportunity to play an active, constructive role in the future of Europe.”

Social tensions and the threat of unemployment in an ever-changing, competitive world economy, disproportionately affect the young. For this reason, efforts are underway at Member State and EU levels to promote a more active involvement of young people in the society in which they live. The European Commission’s action programmes in the field of youth in particular add value through their ability to facilitate the implementation of multinational, Europe-wide initiatives for young Europeans.

The Youth in Action programme will give funding support to projects under five headings:

Youth for Europe: This action is geared to reinforcing the active civic participation of young people by supporting appropriate exchanges, mobility and initiatives for young people and their projects.
European Voluntary Service: This well-known action, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in December this year, continues in the new Youth in Action programme. It aims to develop young people’s solidarity, active engagement and mutual understanding. It can take the form of either individual or collective projects to enable young people to express their personal commitments but also to involve them in the EU’s solidarity actions.
Youth of the world: This fosters young people’s mutual understanding and active engagement through an open-minded approach to the world. It opens up the programme to projects with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe.
Youth workers and support systems: This action helps youth organisations that are active at the European level to promote the development of -
exchange, training and information schemes for youth workers, and
projects to stimulate innovation and quality and partnerships with regional or local entities.
Support for policy cooperation in the field of youth: This promotes co-operation among decision-makers on youth policy, preparing the participation of young people in democratic life. It also develops representative structures for young people throughout Europe. Furthermore, this action gives assistance to encourage structured dialogue between young people and those responsible for youth policy, and helps co-operation with international organisations, thus promoting discussion and reflection on the European Union’s work for young people.
The legal basis for the Youth in Action programme provides for a flexibility clause so that the programme can be adapted to any new priorities that may emerge, ready to be adapted to changing demands. The content of the programme will not be fixed for its duration; rather the initiative remains “live”.

Society changes and evolves; consequently, the Youth in Action programme is now open to a wider range of young people, from adolescence to adulthood. The new programme is cohesive, and it is now accessible to third countries, encouraging maximum participation throughout Europe and beyond.
More information:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/newprog/index_en.html

Russia is interested in defrosting the negotiations on political settlement of the Transnistria problem and working out a special, reliably guaranteed status for Transnistria with the observance of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, reads the press advisory issued by the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the results of the meeting the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin and First Deputy Secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council Yury Zoubakov had here with Mark Tkachuk, the Home Policy Advisor to the Moldovan President, and with Moldovan Minister of Reintegration Vasile Sova.
The document said that the Russian Federation, acting as a co-mediator in the negotiation process and as a guarantor of its results, consistently abides by the opinion that there is no reasonable alternative to attaining an all-out conflict settlement and to achieving status accords through a direct contact of the equal-right sides to the conflict.

The Russian party reaffirmed its readiness to assist in every possible way to the Chisinau and Tiraspol representatives in their resumption of such work, including on the basis of available previous achievements and ideas.

The Russian foreign ministry presumes this would be a contribution to the joint efforts by the rest 2 co-mediators - Ukraine and the OSCE, and by observers - the European Union and the United States.

The spiritual tragedies occurred within the past weeks in Orthodox churches of Ungheni, Calarasi, Floresti, Orhei and other localities bring back into attention the complicated times for Orthodoxy in Moldova in the 50's.
The Orthodox churches have been already closed this way once: with battles, bodyguards, violence. In February 1959, the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party issued a decision to close all the churches and monasteries in Moldova. A special decision of the Council of Ministers followed, after which the grim Calvary of monks, priests and believers began. At the same time, dozens of CSS (Committee for State Security) agents, having taken up positions of monastery abbots, destroyed them from the inside.

The historian Ludmila Tihonov recently has published a book called "The Soviet State policy on confessions in the Moldovan SSR". The book contains information and figures about the number of public prayer places destroyed by the exponents of the Soviet power. According to this work, over 600 churches were closed at the end of 1963, 88 of which in Floresti district, 68 in Rezina, and 65 in Edinet. In this book, as well as in the book of Valeriu Pasat, former director of the Information and Security Service, the non-devotional relationship between clerics and CSS is revealed by archive documents that have become available for the public only now.

Here is the content of the "Classified" letter of 15 May 1961 addressed to comrade Gribanov O.M., Chief of the Department No. 2 of CSS of the USSR, on behalf of the Chairman of the Security Committee beside the Council of Ministers of MSSR, I. Savcenko.

"Special notification about the closing of Hirbovat Monastery"

"An important role in the planning of preparatory measures for closing Hirbovat Monastery was played by Secret Services and trustworthy persons with leading positions within the eparchy directorate, monasteries or nearby villages.

On our assignment, the Secret Services and the trustworthy persons from amongst monks and parishioners disseminated rumours about the closing of the monastery. This action has been supported by our agent "Scurtu", who is the monastery abbot. As a result, a group of monks was formed, which requested to divide the property of the monastery. Taking advantage of the created situation, agents "Nikitin", "Belii", "Scurtu" convinced 52 out of 94 monks to leave the monastery. Afterwards the agent "Florea", the abbot of the Chitcani Monastery, following our instructions, left for Hirbovat and organized transportation of other monks to Chitcani. Then the agent "Scurtu" made an official request to the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to take under protection the property of the monastery. Agent "Kazantev", who occupied a leading position within the eparchy, actively contributed to the closing of the monastery. By his order, the persons who could have negatively influence the preparations of the monastery closing were evacuated from the monastery in the first place. On May 10, 1961, all the monks were evacuated, and the left belongings were transmitted into the possession of the state."

The Moldovan Metropoly is still under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchy, and the matter of de-CSS-ing the Moldovan Orthodox Church has never been discussed. At the same time, 40-year-old scenarios seem to recur.

The things that have kept happening since 1991 up to the present day raise question marks about the relationships between the Russian Secret Services and the Pro-Russian Church of Moldova. This is not the first time when Moscow Patriarchy takes decisions that are opposite to the wish of the parishioners from Moldovan religious communities and any attempt of people to protest is stifled by force.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, also ratified by Moldova, states that "Any person has the right to freedom of religion; this right includes the freedom to change his/her religion or belief, as well as the freedom to manifest his/her religion or belief, independently or in association with other people, in public and in private." This right seems to be frequently violated when a religious community decides to withdraw its membership from the structure of the Pro-Russian Church.

It is well known that public prayer places of the Bessarabian Metropoly seized by the Soviet Government after 1940 have never been re-ceded. At the same time, there are already some cases when religious communities of the Bessarabian Metropoly have been dispossessed of their prayer places even after 1991. For example, the well-known case of the Saint Nicolae Church of Chisinau seized by the Moldovan Metropoly after the decease of the parson Vasile.

There have been no opposite cases, because the relationship between the authorities of the Republic of Moldova and the Moscow Patriarchy seem to be very tight. Last spring, the President Voronin was officially visited by his Eminence Alexii II and awarded the latter the highest state decoration, "The Order of the Republic". The President Voronin has also received high decorations from Moscow. Now he is wearing on his chest the "Alexander Nevsky" order. Nevertheless, the President has not taken any measures to calm down the disturbances around the "Alexander Nevsky" church of Ungheni. Although, according to the legal standards, all confessions are equal before the law, the President Voronin has repeatedly expressed his unwillingness to recognize the Orthodoxy within the Bessarabian Metropoly, declaring during the very visit to Chisinau of the Russian Patriarch that "The Bessarabian Metropoly does not exist".

But besides the phobia of another Orthodox church, the communist leader seems to have another phobia of any Christian initiative not yet approved by Moscow. For, the scandal aroused by the appointment of the cleric Petru Musteata as the Bishop of Ungheni, Nisporeni, and Calarasi was caused by the fact that this decision had been taken by Moscow, regardless of the will of a few dozens of parsons and religious communities of Moldova.

Why the Western parishes of Moldova do not want Petru Musteata? Some say that he might have disregarded the Christian prescription of immaculacy of the body; others speak about corruption within the Orthodox elite of Chisinau and Moscow; the rest refer to the activity of secret agents loyal to Moscow within the religious communities on the Prut River. It is possible that all or none of the above scenarios are true. Only the secret archives can provide clear arguments, but these would be revealed only after a few decades.

From now on, the scenarios seem to be clear. Moscow has never accepted to lose in Moldova, neither on the battlefield of Transnistria, nor in the gas conflict, nor in the wine battle. All the more, Moscow will not cede the public prayer places besides the EC border, especially since it has the support of the owners of "Alexander Nevsky" church and order. The scenario may have another turn only if religious communities, tired of revolts, find forces to follow, besides the path of Redemption, the one of the European justice.

Business Consulting Institute (BCI) experts have recently finalized the "Study on Rural Poverty in the Republic of Moldova, 2005". According to the results of the research, in 2005, rural poverty increased by about 4.8 per cent in comparison with the previous year, reaching 36%, which also determined, to a great extent, the rate growth at the national level. Besides the poverty rate growth, its depth and stringency increased as well.
Doubtful Quality of Economic and Social Policies

The GDP growth (7.1%) could not influence poverty reduction in rural areas to the desired extent, because the share of agriculture, which is the basic activity in rural areas, represents only 14 % of the GDP. On the other hand, the increase in gross value added of this sector by only 1.8% neither could be enough to ensure poverty reduction. Another reason is the fact that rural inhabitants, who receive income mostly from individual agricultural households, practise subsistence agriculture and participate less in trade exchanges. Therefore, the BCI experts conclude, the economic growth within the current economic structure cannot sufficiently influence poverty rate reduction in rural areas.

The increase in income inequality, with great probability, has led to the increase in consumption inequality, which, in its turn, will worsen poverty evaluation indicators. Thus, in 2005, a real consumption and income growth was registered, although not for poor, but mostly for reach people in rural areas.

Households that have income in particular from individual agricultural activity and social indemnities, including social and occupational groups of farmers and agricultural workers, as well as families with 3 or more children have contributed greatly to the increase in poverty rate. Thus, rural poverty can be associated with agricultural activity and dependence on social indemnities, conclude the authors of the study.

Within the examined period, the real average income per capita has increased in rural areas due to the increase in income from paid labour and social indemnities. At the same time, the poverty rate could grow due to the reduction of income from individual agricultural activity for households, where the share of income from this particular source is higher. The significant reduction of income from rented lots is also obvious, and it could have influenced the increase in the poverty rate as well.

The occupational rate in the urban area is higher (46.6%) in comparison with the rural one (44.5%). If in 1999 agriculture counted 50% of the total number of employments, than in 2005 this figure reduced to 40.7%. This structural modification is determined to a great extent by processes of labour force migration from rural areas and not by reallocation of odd labour force from agriculture to industry and services. All these factors have lead to pressures upon the state social insurance budget.

Village Inhabitants Eat, Treat Themselves and Study Worse

The consumption structure of poor people have not undergone significant changes, although, generally, there is a certain difference between consumption priorities, which poor people and the rest of the population can afford. The major differences in this regard have been registered in expenditures for education, public utilities, clothing and footwear. Poor people have insignificantly reduced alcohol consumption, while non-poor people have reduced their expenditures for clothing and footwear, and educational expenditures have significantly decreased in all the rural households.

Out of about 11.5 billion lei transferred from abroad, only about 139 million lei represent the income of rural households. Under these circumstances, one cannot claim with sufficient accuracy whether poor households benefit from these transfers, or they are poor including due to the fact that they do not benefit from them. On the basis of the available data, it can be deduced that these poor categories receive insignificant amounts from remittances. Taking into account the huge amount of remittances, it can be assumed that their importance in poverty rate reduction is considerable. At the same time, it can be assumed that at the present moment a number of persons do not have access to remittances. Correspondingly, even if the amount of the transferred money grows, it will not contribute directly to taking them out of poverty.

School enrolment rates for poor families from rural areas are considerably low and continue to decrease every year, except for preschool enrolment rate. It can be explained by the fact that households from rural areas and towns could not pay for clothing, food, school accessories and textbooks. Particular concerns are also raised by the fact that a constantly growing number of school-age children are left in the care of neighbours and relatives, because their parents have to work abroad. At the same time, children from rural areas enter the educational system with a certain delay and leave it earlier. Already at the age of 13, school enrolment rates of these children start to decrease in comparison with their peers from urban areas. This factor surely has a negative influence on the quality of knowledge and, as a consequence, on the capacity to obtain income and make a career according to the aspirations of each child.

Discriminated Children and Elderly People

In 2005, the average old-age pension in agriculture was 28% of the country average wage and 56% of the living wage for pensioners, having less value in comparison with pensions for other beneficiaries of the social insurance system. Of the total expenditures on pension payment within the insurance system, 50% is represented by expenditures on farmer pension payment, while their contributions constitute 5%.

While social insurance transfers form an important source of income for households, in particular for households with elderly people, other money transfers have had an insignificant impact on poverty reduction. The majority of indemnities are allocated on the basis of category principles and only some of them on the basis of income testing.

The current system of state social services is still poorly diversified. The institutionalization rate grew by 4% in 2005 in comparison with 2004, and by 12.9% in comparison with 2001. It is obviously necessary to develop community-based alternative services.

Rural population emphasizes to a lesser extent the importance of income and nutrition, considering their health condition of a greater importance. This situation is determined by the methods of obtaining income, which are conditioned to a great extent by the capability to work physically. The categorization of persons to the category of poor people usually takes place not on the basis of expenditure or income level, but rather on their capability to obtain income.

Therefore, poor people are perceived, first of all, as people who cannot or do not want to work, followed by families, whose consumption is disproportionately higher than their income, due to the family structure (e.g. families with many children). The lack of financial resources has contributed to the reduction of the number of addresses to doctors, in particular by poor households from rural areas. The number of addresses to emergency healthcare services is increasing. The number of families considered poor due to alcoholism and laziness is alarmingly high.

New Policies are Required

Business Consulting Institute experts consider that the poverty rate growth in rural areas can be explained by a number of causes. The most important ones include: reduction of income from individual agricultural activity, insignificant impact of government policies on creating workplaces in rural areas, uneven distribution of the national product, limited access of the population to goods and services, as well as the lack of certain viable mechanisms for supporting poor people. At the same time, there are methodological problems related to actual consumption evaluation and differences in regional prices, which prevent from accurately evaluating poverty in rural areas. Also, there is still a problem of categorizing individuals, whose consumption expenditures are under the absolute poverty line, but who have declared income that places them into the group of the richest people according to their income, as poor people.

Organizatia pentru Securitate si Cooperare in Europa Misiunea in Moldova
www.osce.org/moldova

PRESS RELEASE

OSCE Moldova Mission calls for fair and equal campaigning in Gagauz elections

CHISINAU, 27 October 2006 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Louis O▓Neill called today on central and regional authorities to ensure fair and equal campaign conditions for the 3 December elections for the Bashkan (Governor) of the autonomous Gagauz region in southern Moldova.

⌠These elections are a test case not only for Gagauzia, but for Moldova as a whole,■ Ambassador O▓Neill said upon return from a fact-finding trip to the region.

In his meetings yesterday with the Chairman of the Gagauz Election Commission, Viktor Koloshin, incumbent Bashkan, Georgi Tabunshik, and his challengers Mihail Formuzal, Nikolai Dudoglo and Aleksandr Stoianoglo, Ambassador O▓Neill underlined the importance of fair and equal campaign conditions.

He also urged restraint from use of administrative resources and transparency at every stage for truly free and fair elections, adding: ⌠The 2005 parliamentary elections in Moldova fell short on some key commitments, particularly regarding equal access to the media and overall campaign conditions. In past elections in Gagauzia we have noted similar problems. It▓s unlikely that anyone will be satisfied with the outcome of this year▓s elections if we do not see a clear improvement in these areas.■

Ambassador O▓Neill emphasized the right to stand as a candidate as a fundamental principle of a genuinely democratic electoral process.

⌠We will in this regard attentively study the case of Valeriy Ianioglo, who has been denied registration after a large number of signatures in support of his candidacy were disqualified by the Election Commission,■ the Head of the OSCE Mission said.

Ianioglo is supported by the Patria-Rodina Party, which received 51.5% of the vote in the region during the 2005 parliamentary elections.

As in previous elections in the autonomous Gagauz region the OSCE Mission will carry out an assessment of the election process, closely following election preparations and visiting polling stations on election day.

http://www.osce.org/moldova/item_1_21872.html Claus Neukirch, Spokesperson/Press and Public Affairs Officer OSCE Mission to Moldova

str. Mitropolit Dosoftei 108

MD-2012 Chisinau

phone + 373-22-887813 (direct)

+373-22-223495 (switchboard)

fax + 373-22-223496

mobile + 373-69117024

email claus.neukirch@osce.org

Citizens of the R. Moldova can address questions to Romanian President Traian Basescu via the Free Press Association (API).
Questions will be collected during a week, after which they will be sent to Romanian head of state, who accepted to offer an exclusive interview to the Moldovan-Romanian online newspaper √ www.md-ro.org.

Questions can be sent to the postal address API (MD 2004, Chisinau, str. Corobceanu 15) or by e-mail to redactia@md-ro.org.

The Moldovan-Romanian online newspaper www.md-ro.org is edited by API within the project ⌠Expanding trans-border cooperation between journalists from the R. of Moldova and Romania■ with the financial support of the Department for Relations with Romanians Living Abroad under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

A roundtable on HIV and migration is going to take place in Chisinau, on November 14–15, 2006, organized by the International Organization for Migration, Mission to Republic of Moldova.
The event will gather representatives of governmental institutions from Republic of Moldova, international experts in HIV and migration field, relevant UN theme group as well as civil society representatives active in HIV area to discuss the issues related to HIV and migration, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), migrants’ health and social protection. Additionally, the Chisinau roundtable is aimed at raising public opinion awareness to HIV dissemination among migrants and the mobile population from Moldova.

The need for this event derives form the constant increase of HIV and STI cases among migrants and mobile population of the Republic of Moldova, in the context of Moldova’s out migration phenomenon. According to data provided by the AIDS Center, within the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, 533 new HIV cases were registered in 2005, which constitutes 12,5 per 100 000 population. During the first semester of current year, 301 new cases of HIV have been detected, compared to 6 months of 2005, when 236 cases were identified.

"Migration splits families and couples used to having unprotected sex with only one partner. Quite frequently separation leads to new relations some of which can be risky and the virus is transmitted as an indirect consequence of separation through migration", stated Martin Andreas Wyss, IOM Moldova Chief of Mission.

Among the subjects to be discussed in the "HIV and Migration" roundtable are: policies on HIV and migration, vulnerability of mobile populations, effective prevention strategies to respond to HIV, treatment and care services, epidemiological aspects of HIV and migration in Moldova, HIV/STIs infections among trafficked women in Ukraine and Moldova, the role of consular services in protection of migrants’ health rights abroad.

The participants will also be familiarized with the results of HIV and STIs prevention activities carried out among Moldovan communities in Italy and Russia, two main destination countries for Moldovan migrants. These activities, as well as the roundtable, are developed in the framework of the project "HIV Prevention among Migrants in the Republic of Moldova", which is currently being implemented by IOM Moldova with the financial support from the Global Fund to Fight HIV/TB/Malaria and Soros Foundation-Moldova. //Cross-posted from IOM Moldova

For further information:
Iraida Margineanu,
Media and Public Information Officer, IOM Chisinau,
Tel.: 23-29-40 (ext.110), imargineanu@iom.int

1
NATIONAL PROGRAMME ON PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
HIV/AIDS AND STIs 2006-2010
INTRODUCTION
HIV/AIDS infection continues to remain a major problem of public health. In
2004, 224 new cases were registered (6,2 per 100,000), compared to 2001 – 210
cases (5,81 per 100,000).
Until 01.01.2005, 1915 persons were diagnosed with HIV in the Republic of
Moldova, including 56 foreign citizens, the prevalence being 51,46 per 100,000.
The epidemic process has spread in all the administrative regions of the Republic
of Moldova. According to incomplete data, in the eastern part of the country 390
persons were diagnozed and confirmed HIV positive by the reference laboratory of
the AIDS Centre, with a prevalence of 62,03 per 100,000 population. According to
current data, in the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova, 513 blood samples
were tested positive in the immunoferment screening reaction without being
confirmed. 145 persons developed AIDS, and 82 people died.
Until the year 2000 the epidemic process of HIV/AIDS was mostly determined
by the spread of the infection among injecting drug users. In the past few years
there is a decrease in the rate of injecting drug users from 78,10% in 2001 to
42,41% in 2004 and a growth in the rate of people infected through heterosexual
contacts from 18,57 % in 2001 to 55,36% in 2004. The proportion of women
among HIV positive persons has increased from 25,24 % in 2001 to 49,11 % in
2004. 7 cases of HIV infection were registered among pregnant women in 2003
and 38 in 2004. Also, 4 cases of MTCT were registered in 2003 and 5 in 2004. The
incidence of HIV positive persons in the age category 15-24 remains stable (10,9
in 2001 and 9,67 in 2004). Compared to 2003, the number of people infected with
syphilis in 2004 has decreased by 11,3%.
The Evaluation of the National Programme on Prevention and Control of
HIV/AIDS and STIs for 2001-2005, approved under the Decision of the
Government of the Republic of Moldova nr. 482 of June 18, 2001, confirmed its
viability, contributing to the mobilization of internal forces in the implementation
of key prevention strategies and activities, surveillance and control of HIV/AIDS
infection and STI, informational and educational activities, work with vulnerable
groups, initiation of ARV treatment, provision of medical assistance, help and
support for HIV positive individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS.
State activities in the implementation of Programme strategies are supported
technically and financially by international organizations, as well as grants from
the Global Fund to fight AIDS/TB/Malaria, the World Bank and others. These
organizations have contributed to the implementation of committments undertaken
through the Declaration signed by the Government of the Republic of Moldova at
the Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on HIV/AIDS
from June 2001.
Monitorization and epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS infection is
constantly undertaken. Access of the general population to HIV/AIDS testing has
increased (in 2001, 116374 were tested, in 2004 – 216762 persons).
2
Epidemiological surveillance activities, specific ARV treatment, treatment of
opportunistic infections, as well as palliative care are standardized with the
development of national protocols.
Educational, communication, training and prevention programmes are
implemented among the general population, youth and risk groups. A curricula was
developed for the subject „Life Skills”, teachers were trained, guides were
developed and starting with 2005 this subject is introduced as mandatory in
schools.
Medical assistance was expanded to persons infected with HIV/AIDS, including
specific antiretroviral treatment and treatment of opportunistic diseases.
With the support of non-governmental organizations harm reduction projects
have been implemented, including projects in penitenciaries, among sexual
minorities, persons with high risk of infection, training of trainers and volunteers in
life skills and peer education (adolescents, youth, army personnel, carabineers,
border guards), social and psychological support, hotline counselling, journalists
training.
The draft of the National Programme on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS
and STIs was developed based on an analysis of the epidemic situation, the
implementation results of the previous National Programme, identifying
opportunities, difficulties and positive aspects.
The National Programme is oriented towards promoting a healthy lifestyle in
society, in parallel with the expansion of activities and prevention interventions,
early diagnosis and treatment of people infected with HIV/AIDS/STIs. All of these
will contribute to a decrease in the number of new cases of infection, while the full
coverage with ARV treatment will improve the length and quality of life, and will
reduce the risk of MTCT transmission of the infection.
Major objectives of the Programme
- succession and sustainability in planning and implementation of activities and
interventions;
- joining efforts, involvement, interaction and coordination of the activities of
state institutions, local public authorities, individual persons, including people
living with HIV/AIDS, NGOs and international organizations as partners in the
implementation of activities to fight HIV/AIDS/STIs in the Republic of Moldova;
- attracting and making rational use of bugetary financial resources, from grants,
communication projects, raising awareness and behavioral change; prevention
work among the general population and target groups, expansion and provision of
medical assistance, treatment, care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS;
- improving the epidemiological situation, prevention of HIV/AIDS/STIs,
reducing the incidence of HIV among youth and the negative consequences on the
individual, community and society, creating favourable conditions for the
improvement of the quality of life, according to Objective 6 of the Millennium
Development Goals;
- development of a guaranteed social protection system and provision of access
to medical services of people living with HIV.
3
Major strategies:
1) Development, consolidation and ensuring the functioning of a
unique national interdepartmental, multisectoral system to
coordinate activities of state and non-governmental institutions in
control and prevention of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
2) Capacity building and expanding of IEC activities for the
general public, youth and vulnerable groups in HIV/AIDS/STI
prevention.
3) Capacity consolidation and development of an epidemiological
surveillance system of HIV/AIDS/STI infection with second
generation elements (behavioural surveillance).
4) Expansion of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention activities among
vulnerable groups which aim at consolidating NGO and state
efforts.
5) Infrastructure development and development of medical
assistance capacities, social and palliative care of people living
with HIV/AIDS, members of their families and children affected
by HIV/AIDS.
6) Extending coverage activities for voluntary counselling and
testing services in state medical institutions and their development
within the framework of frienfly youth health services.
7) Capacity building of prevention of HIV/AIDS and STI
transmission from mother to child.
8) Integrating the provision of blood transfussions, medical
interventions and other kinds and prevention of nosocomial spread
on HIV/AIDS infection and syphilis.
9) Complementing and expanding activities of prevention,
diagnosis, treatment and care for people with mixed HIV/TB
infection, including penitenciaries.
The implementation of strategies, objectives and activities of the National
Programme will reduce the size of HIV/AIDS/STI spread, and minimize the
negative consequences. By 2010 the following indicators are expected to be
accomplished:
4
Provision of access to educational and informational programs for the
general population. In schools and Universities starting with 2007 a mandatory
„Life skills” course will be introduced, which will train annually over 560
thousand children, adolescents and youth.
The Development of a Strategic Framework for Communication on
HIV/AIDS/STI for 2005-2010 will contribute to a coordinated launch of activities
and communication, education and information campaigns among the general
population, youth and vulnerable groups to encourage behaviour change.
High risk groups will have access to educational programs and prevention
services based on harm reduction strategy, which will allow maintaining the level
of HIV spread at 40%.
Provision of access to free counselling and voluntary and confidential
testing on HIV and STIs for the general population. 100% of solicitants will
benefit from these services, especially pregnant women and persons in the age
category 15-24.
Provision of specific ARV treatment and treatment of opportunistic
diseases according to clinical and immunological indications based on
WHO/UNAIDS recommendations at a rate of 100%; provision of prevention
treatment of HIV positive pregnant women and newborns at a rate of 100% and
provision of free artificial nutrition of children born from HIV positive mothers.
Capacity consolidation and access to palliative care of persons living with
HIV/AIDS.
Provision of free specific treatment of people infected with syphilis in
100% of cases.
Decrease the incidence of HIV/AIDS by the year 2010 to 3,5 per 100,00
population, and among the age group 15-24 to 4,2. Reduce the incidence of
syphilis by 2010 to 70 cases per 100,000 population.
STRATEGY I
Development, consolidation and ensuring the functioning of a unique national
interdepartmental, multisectoral system to coordinate activities of state and
non-governmental institutions in control and prevention of HIV/AIDS and
STIs.
SCOPE – Uniting the efforts and coordinating the activities of governmental
institutions, private sector, NGOs and international organizations as social partners
in the implementation of activities aimed at combating the HIV/AIDS/STI
epidemic in the Republic of Moldova and reducing the negative consequences on
society.
HIV/AIDS/STI infection represents a major threat to public health and society.
The activities (measures) of the public health system in prevention constitute 10-
15%. The implementation of complex and efficient measures of prevention,
communication, and social awareness, provision of social and medical assistance,
respect for human rights, including the rights of sexual minorities and other groups
5
with a high risk of infection behaviour requires a joint and coordinated effort of
governmental institutions, local public authorities, NGOs, international
organizations and the private sector.
The continuous monitorization of the implementation of the National
Programme, Global Fund grants, World Bank and other donors.
ACTIVITIES
1. Ensure the political committment at central and regional level and the
financing of activities of the National Programme on Prevention and Control of
HIV/AIDS/STIs.
2. Development of capacities of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM)
in the implementation and monitorization of the National Programme on
Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS/STIs.
3. Development, consolidation and ensuring the functionality of technical
working groups of the CCM – epidemiological and sentinel surveillance of
HIV/AIDS and STI infection; education, information and communication (IEC);
decreasing, minimizing the risks and negative consequences among vulnerable
groups (with high risk of infection); support, specific ARV treatment, medical and
social assistance; monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
4. Development and approval of work plans of the CCM and technical working
groups.
5. Development of action plans for regions, ministries, departments and
agencies in the implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and
Control of HIV/AIDS/STIs.
6. Consolidation of the network of NGOs which are working in the field of
HIV/AIDS/STIs and people living with HIV/AIDS, encourage the dissemination of
best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention and provide support to people living with
HIV/AIDS.
7. Set up the framework for the development of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention
policies in the workplace.
STRATEGY II
Capacity building and expanding of IEC activities for the general public,
youth and vulnerable groups in HIV/AIDS/STI prevention.
SCOPE – Improving the knowledge, increasing the level of awareness of the
problem by the population, adopting inoffensive behaviours, changing the attitude
vis-a-vis the problem of HIV/AIDS/STI, creating a tolerant environment for
persons affected by HIV/AIDS, prevention of stigmatization and discrimination.
Cultivate a sense of individual responsibility for one’s health, creating an
environment enabling behaviour change, and maintaining inoffensive behaviour,
and encouraging people to access prevention services (including counselling and
testing), treatment, care and support.
Development of capacities for the elaboration, implementation and
evaluation of activities and communication campaigns.
6
Communication has a pragmatic approach based on practices and proofs and
is directed towards increasing the level of awareness through the implementation
of activities and educational programmes among organized contingents (schools,
lyceums, middle-schools, universities), general population and vulnerable groups.
ACTIVITIES
1. Establishing and ensuring the functionality of a unique system of developing life
skills of youth in middle and high schools, professional environment and
Universities based on the Curricula, and the development of life skills among
youth who are not enrolled in the educational process based on out-of-school
programmes, including peer to peer education and outreach activities.
1.1 Development and publishing of educational materials for youth:
- publishing of a manual for students from colleges and trade schools – year
2006;
- Curricula and student manual for the course „Life skills from universities”
– year 2007;
1.2 Development of training materials for teachers:
- the manual of professors for colleges and trade schools – year 2006;
- university professor guide in „Life skills” – year 2007;
1.3. Re-publishing of the student and professor manual for middle and high
school level – year 2009;
1.4. Training of teachers from :
- Colleges and trade schools, 4000 pers. – year 2006 - 2007;
- Universities, 4000 pers. – year 2006 - 2007;
- Primary school, 3000 teachers - additional – year 2006 ;
- annual training of school teachers, 5000 pers. – year 2006 - 2009;
1.5 Development of materials for parents – year 2007;
1.6 Implementation of advertising activities – 2006 – 2010;
1.7 Implementation of a study regarding the impact of the program „Life
skills” among youth – 2008.
1.8 Development and publishing of a special periodic edition for medical
workers on HIV/AIDS/STI.
2. Development of Strategic Framework for Communication in HIV/AIDS/STIs.
2.1. Development of communication model and structure of communication
– year 2006;
2.2. Development of a matrix and network of partner institutions in the
implementation of communication activities – 2006;
2.3. Consolidation and development of capacities, continuity of
communication for the general population and target groups – mass-media, peer
educators, outreach workers, counsellors and community workers, support groups,
etc. – permanent;
2.4. Development and implementation of the action plan, which will include
information regarding available funds in the field of HIV/AIDS/STI
communication;
7
2.5. Development of instruments for the monitorization and evaluation of the
efficiency of the action plan in the field of communication for HIV/AIDS/STI –
year 2006-2007.
3. Implementation of communication campaigns for youth and the general
population; strengthening of information, education and communication capacities.
4. Development and maintenance of the green line (hotline) at the national level
0800 to be accessed by the population, including people living with HIV/AIDS.
STRATEGY III
Capacity consolidation and development of an epidemiological surveillance
system of HIV/AIDS/STI infection with second generation elements
(behavioural surveillance).
SCOPE – Continuous monitorization of the epidemic situation, situational
evaluation, development and adjustment of activities and prevention interventions.
ACTIVITIES
1. Ensure the functioning of the integrated national system of monitoring of the
epidemic situation, medical assistance, treatment, including specific ARV of
people infected with AIDS and syphilis, adjusting prevention activities based on
monitorization and evaluation.
2. Ensure the epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS/STI infection at the
state and regional level through screening of different contingents, including
groups with high risk of infection based on the annual plan.
3. Counselling and testing activities of 280 thousand persons annually:
screening of blood donations 70 - 80 thousand annually; epidemiological
surveillance of high risk contingents - 70 thousand, pregnant women - 40 thousand
twice during the pregnancy period; anonymous testing - 10 thousand persons;
people with clinical symptoms of sexually transmitted infections - 10 thousand;
testing according to clinical indications - 10 thousand; biologic sentinel
surveillance - 20 thousand. Undertake screening to syphilis and blood donations -
1,1 million persons.
4. Development of diagnosis services in chlamydia and papiloma human virus.
5. Development and publishing of the guide „Second generation
epidemiological surveillance and antiepidemic and prevention measures” – 2006 -
2007.
6. Undertaking a behavioural study within the framework of second generation
epidemiological surveillance among vulnerable groups (2 studies) – year 2006 and
2008.
7. Ensure the surveillance system and implementation of antiepidemic and
prevention measures in the centres of HIV/AIDS/STI infection according to the
respective guide.
8. Early diagnosis of persons with HIV/AIDS/STI through the development and
expansion of counselling and voluntary testing, including anonymous.
8
STRATEGY IV
Expansion of HIV/AIDS/STI prevention activities among vulnerable groups
which aim at consolidating NGO and state efforts.
SCOPE – Ensure the access of persons from vulnerable groups to health and
social assistance services, counselling and voluntary testing to HIV/AIDS/STIs, to
information, prevention activities, individual measures of protection and treatment.
Groups with high risk of infection include young people, most of them being
unemployed, with limited access to medical and social assistance services and they
present a high potential in the development of the epidemic process of HIV/AIDS
and STIs. Drug addiction represents a dangerous phenomenom through its
multifactoral, dynamic and changing character, which predominantly affects the
age group 14-35 years of age and constitutes a major problem for public health,
favouring mortality as a result of overdosage, suicides, HIV/AIDS transmission,
viral hepatitis and TB. The rate of drug users involved in the epidemic process of
HIV/AIDS infection remains high.
ACTIVITIES
1. Accomplishing through joint efforts of state institutions (Ministry of Health
and Social Protection, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education) and NGOs, the
implementation of prevention projects, including projects based on „harm
reduction” strategy, among contingents and vulnerable groups: injecting drug
users; detainees in penitenciary institutions; commercial female sex workers;
sexual minorities; unschooled and unemployed youth; migrants, including
repatriates; Roma; children and youth with mental disabilities, etc.
2. Development and consolidation of rehabilitation services for people living
with HIV/AIDS, including HIV positive injecting drug users. Creation of medical
and social rehabilitation Centres in big urban centres - 2006-2007.
3. Extending the methadone substitution programme, increasing access of IDUs
to substitution therapy in specialized institutions subordinated to the Ministry of
Health and Social Protection and in penitenciaires.
4. Development, printing and distribution of methodical and educational
materials in primary and secondary prevention of HIV/AIDS/STIs.
5. Ensure access to condoms.
6. Development of a framework to involve students from the State Medical
University, medical colleges and paedagogical institutions with departments
focusing on training of social workers, in voluntary outreach activities in the IDU
environment, other vulnerable groups and people living with HIV/AIDS.
7. Fight illegal drug trafficking.
9
STRATEGY V
Infrastructure development and development of medical assistance capacities,
social and palliative care of people living with HIV/AIDS, members of their
families and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
SCOPE – Provide free treatment and maintain adherence to ARV therapy of
people living with HIV/AIDS, according to WHO/UNAIDS recommendations,
with preventive treatment of pregnant HIV positive women and newborns – 100%.
Strengthening medical assistance and palliative care and social assistance of people
living with HIV/AIDS, with opportunistic diseases and members of their families.
Full free coverage of people infected with syphilis.
ACTIVITIES
1. Expansion and consolidation of institutions providing medical assistance to
people living with HIV/AIDS. Provision of necessary specific drugs for ARV
treatment, opportunistic diseases and syphilis.
2. Establishment of two centres for the treatment of people living with AIDS in
areas with high prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection. Integrating palliative services,
including „hospice” type, based on medical and sanitary public and private
institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
3. Development and expansion of palliative care services and psycho-social
support of people living with HIV/AIDS at home with the participation of public
medical and sanitary institutions and non-governmental organizations.
4. Ensure laboratory monitoring of the evolution of HIV/AIDS infection and the
efficacy of antiretroviral treatment and opportunistic diseases. Development of
capacities to determine viral resistance to ARV drugs.
5. Training of medical personnel involved in treatment, diagnosis and
surveillance of persons infected with HIV.
6. Development of regulations regarding the organization and functioning of
palliative care services for people with HIV/AIDS.
7. Training of medical personnel, members of their families with HIV/AIDS and
volunteers in palliative care.
8. Adjusting national treatment and HIV/AIDS/STI palliative care protocols in
accordance to WHO recommendations.
9. Ensure social assistance and protection of people living with HIV/AIDS,
members of their families and children affected with HIV/AIDS.
10. Updating and re-publishing the palliative care guide of persons living with
HIV/AIDS.
STRATEGY VI
Extending coverage activities for voluntary counselling and testing services in
state medical institutions and their development within the framework of
frienfly youth health services.
10
SCOPE – Ensure access to counselling and voluntary testing services to 100%
of the population which solicits such services, especially persons in the age
category 15 – 24.
Ensuring access and promoting the use of quality condoms.
ACTIVITIES
1. Development of the institutional framework on the basis of a network of
counselling centres in public medical and sanitary institutions (centres and offices
of family doctors, health centres, consultation clinics), furnishing of buildings,
training of medical personnel in pre and post testing counselling, development,
photocopying and ensuring the necessary medical documentation.
2. Expansion of counselling and voluntary and confidential testing services in
public medical and sanitary institutions and in the network of friendly youth health
services.
3. Development, approval and publishing of the National Guide on
Counselling and Voluntary Testing.
4. Extending access to counselling, anonymous and confidential testing,
especially in communities with high HIV/STI incidence or prevalence, through the
consolidation of capacities and increasing the number of providers capable of
offering these services.
5. Increase access to counselling and free voluntary testing in medical
emeregency centres, IDU treatment and rehabilitation centres, family planning
clinics and other programmes of prevention and educational interventions for
persons with high risk of infection.
6. Training of national and local trainers in counselling and voluntary testing.
7. Continuous training regarding pre and post test counselling of staff from
counselling and testing centres, heads of Family Doctors’ Centres and youth
friendly health clinics.
8. Development, publishing and provision of VCT centres with informative
and educational materials.
9. Expanding educational activities and promotion of counselling and testing
in penitenciary institutions and in short term detention centres.
10. Creation of a strategic framework in promoting the accessibility of the
population and ensure condom quality control.
STRATEGY VII
Capacity building of prevention of HIV/AIDS and STI transmission from
mother to child.
SCOPE – Reduce the risk of MTCT transmission of HIV, syphilis and
gonorrhea through ensuring access to counselling and confidential voluntary
testing of 100% of pregnant women, full coverage of HIV positive pregnant
women, infected with syphilis and children born from mothers infected with
prevention treatment.
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ACTIVITIES
1. Development of social competences of sexually active persons, also in
the context of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS/STI prevention.
2. Ensure access to health and social services, pre and post test counselling
of young people, including before marriage, young families with the participation
of health services and non-governmental organizations.
3. Continuous training of medical staff regarding the complex measures of
prevention of nominated MTCT transmission.
4. Informing the population regarding prevention measures of
HIV/AIDS/STI and the importance of testing.
5. Full coverage of pregnant women with 2 free and voluntary tests for
HIV/AIDS/syphilis/gonorrhea.
6. Development of a prevention programme of unwanted pregnancies
among females of fertile age infected with HIV and syphilis.
7. Ensure access of pregnant HIV positive women to counselling services
regarding the nutrition of the child.
8. Provision of quality artificial nutrition for children born from HIV positive
mothers.
9. Development of a legislative framework regarding the provision of social
assistance to children affected by HIV/AIDS and the development of social
services for them.
STRATEGY VIII
Integrating the provision of blood transfussions, medical interventions and
other kinds and prevention of nosocomial spread on HIV/AIDS infection and
syphilis.
SCOPE – Minimizing the risk of post-transfusion, nosocomial and
professional infection.
ACTIVITIES
1. Development and maintenance of a blood service, determining the
policies and strategies of applying blood transfusions in curative practice in order
to ensure their inoffensive nature, prevention of HIV/AIDS and other blood
transmitted infections.
2. Implementation in the blood service of the state system of creating
reserves of donated blood and blood eradicators with the retesting of the donor
after 6 months from donation to HIV1/2 markers, to exclude virus transmission as
a result of blood transfusions.
3. Improving the system of selecting donors of blood, biologic liquids,
organs and tissue (clinical, epidemiologic and lab exam) for the exclusion of
persons from high risk groups.
4. Provision of medical and sanitary institutions with the necessary array of
blood substitutes. Ensure labs for testing of HIV and other blood transmitted
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diseases are equipped with modern equipment and performant consumables, which
will reduce to a minimum the possibility of infecting the recipients.
5. Ensure the adequate hygienic and antiepidemic conditions, sterility of
equipment, instruments, materials used in the process of providing assistance,
undertaking of manual labor and medical interventions, in public, departmental and
private medical and sanitary institutions. The permanent functioning of the system
for monitoring and evaluation of the work regime of sterilization equipment, the
quality of processing and sterilization of medical instruments.
6. Creating inoffensive work conditions, compliance with antiepidemic
regime in public, departmental and private medical and sanitary institutions.
Continuous training of medical personnel regarding the security of blood
transfusions, inoffensive measures of work for staff and patients. Providing the
medical personnel with individual protection measures.
7. Creating and ensuring inofensive conditions in facilities providing
cosmetological services, manicure/pedicure, piercing, tatooing and other services
which imply contact with biologic liquids.
STRATEGY IX
Complementing and expanding activities of prevention, diagnosis, treatment
and care for people with mixed HIV/TB infection, including penitenciaries.
SCOPE – Prevention of infection spread through TB among HIV infected
persons, implementation of early diagnosys measures of HIV/AIDS infection in
people with evolutive TB and TB in people with HIV/AIDS. Coverage with ARV
and anti-TB treatment of persons coinfected with TB/HIV.
ACTIVITIES
1. Coordination and improved efficacy of the activities of phtysiopneumology,
HIV/AIDS, primary and specialized medicine services in the prevention of
development of mixed TB/HIV infection. Ensure complex medical assistance of
persons coinfected with TB/AIDS.
2. Development of the protocol on prevention measures, diagnosys and treatment
and care of coinfection with TB/HIV.
3. Perfecting the surveillance system of coinfection with HIV/TB.
4. Training of medical personnel in prevention, diagnosys and treatment of cases of
coinfection with TB/HIV.
MAIN EXECUTORS OF THE PROGRAMME
The main executors of the programme are: Government of the Republic of
Moldova, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Ministry of Education, Youth
and Sport, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ministry of Justice, Public
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Company «Teleradio-Moldova», local public administration authorities, massmedia,
Network of organizations working in the field of HIV/AIDS and TB.
PARTNERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME
International organizations which provide technical and financial assistance in the
field
TASKS OF MINISTRIES, AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAMME ON
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HIV/AIDS AND STIs
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Development of the capacities of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM)
in the implementation and monitoring of the National Programme on prevention
and Control of HIV/AIDS/STI. Development, consolidation and ensuring the
functionality of technical working groups of the CCM – epidemiological and
sentinel surveillance of HIV/AIDS and STIs; education, information and
communication (IEC); decrease, minimization of risks and negative consequences
in vulnerable groups (with high risk of infection); support, specific ARV treatment,
medical and social assistance; monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
Consolidation of NGO networks which are working in the field of
HIV/AIDS/STI and people living with HIV/AIDS, encourage the dissemination of
best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention and provide support to people living with
HIV/AIDS.
Ensure priority financing, political support of HIV/AIDS activities and
earmarking in the state budget of alocations with special destination for the
financing of major strategies and activities stipulated in the National Programme
and regional plans.
Monitorization of the National Programme on Prevention and Control of
HIV/AIDS and STIs.
LOCAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITIES
Establishment of regional interdepartmental, multisectoral committees for the
prevention of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
Earmarking in local budgets of alocations with special destination for priority
financing of major strategies and activities foreseen in regional plans.
Consolidate the activities of state and non-governmental institutions in the
implementation of regional programmes.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
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Implementation and development of the Strategic Framework for
Communication on HIV/AIDS/STIs.
Ensure the functioning of an integrated national system of monitoring the
epidemic situation, medical assistance, treatment, including specific ARV
treatment, of people living with AIDS and syphilis, execution of prevention
activities based on soft generated reports.
Ensure the state epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS/STIs and the
implementation of antiepidemic and prevention measures.
Continuous training of medical personnel in aspects of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
Development of standards and protocols with regard to the problems of
HIV/AIDS/STI infection „Epidemiological surveillance of second generation HIV
infection and antiepidemic measures”, „Universal precautions and prevention of
professional HIV/AIDS among medical workers”, „Care and palliative treatment”,
„Diagnosis protocol, treatment and support in coinfection HIV/TB” and pre and
post counselling guide.
Provision of medical assistance to people infected with HIV and people living
with AIDS and STIs.
Ensure the safety of blood transfusions, interventions and medical manual
labour.
Support, consultation and collaboration with non-governmental organizations
working in the field of HIV/AIDS and STIs.
Coordination of interdepartmental social support, with the local public
administration and non-governmental organizations.
Collaboration with international organizations – World Bank, Global Fund to
fight AIDS/TB/Malaria, WHO, SIDA, European Centre for epidemiological
surveillance of HIV/AIDS, UN Theme Group in Moldova, UNAIDS, UNICEF,
UNFPA, UNDP, UNESCO, UNHCR, Soros Foundation Moldova, Peace Corps,
USAID, DFID, AIHA etc.
Development and promotion in international organizations of projects for the
financial and technical support of activities in the field of HIV/AIDS/STIs.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORT
Establishing and ensuring the functioning of a unique system of life skills
training among youth in middle and highschools, professional environment and
universities on the basis of Curricula, as well as the development of life skills of
youth not enrolled in academic studies on the basis of extracurricular programmes,
including peer education and outreach activities.
Organize continuous courses to train teachers on this issue.
Development and publishing of methodical materials for professors, students
and parents.
Development of a framework to involve students from the Medical University
„Nicolae TestemiŃanu”, medical colleges and paedagogical universities with
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faculties that train social workers in voluntary outreach activities among injecting
drug users, other vulnerable groups and people living with HIV/AIDS.
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Combat illegal drug trafficking and narco