I. General principles

1. The National Coordination Council for National HIV/AIDS/STI Prophylaxis and Control and TB control Programmes, hereinafter the National Coordination Council, is an intersectorial structure at the national level and reflects Republic of Moldova commitment and priorities in fighting tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
   The goal of the National Coordination Council is to contribute at the efficient implementation of the activities of the National HIV/AIDS/STI Prophylaxis and Control and TB control Programmes through coordinating, monitoring and disbursing the finances donated by the international organizations as an answer to the country necessities to achieve the Millenium Development Goals.

2. The Activity of the National Coordination Council is based on European democratic principles and the legislation of Republic of Moldova. The present regulation was developed according to the recommendations of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria.

3. The National Coordination Council activity is based on a partnership created among state institutions, international and non-governmental institutions respecting the transparency and mutual collaboration.

4. The activity of the National Coordination Council is intersectorial and interministerial to assure a better participation of the interested parts in the process of monitoring the activities in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and TB control, as well as to establish a consolidated relationship among all stakeholders involved in the elaboration, promotion and implementation of national politics in Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS/STI field.

5. National Coordination Council is headed by the President and assisted by the Vice-president.

II. The National Coordination Council objectives

6. The National Coordination Council objectives are in line with the general objectives of National HIV/AIDS/STI Prophylaxis and Control and TB control Programmes and suppose to enhance the epidemiological and population health situation through:
   • Making the Government policy on controlling HIV/AIDS/STI and TB more efficient;
   • Developing an intersectorial partnership between state, international and nongovernmental institutions for a better control of HIV/AIDS/STI and TB;
   • Ensuring a mutual efficient dialogue between governmental and nongovernmental organizations from the republic of Moldova and abroad.
7. For achieving its purpose and tasks, the National Coordination Council:
   • analyzes the causes and conditions which favor the spread of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS/STI;
   • contributes to the development of the national strategies for surveillance, control and prevention of TB and HIV/AIDS, and supervises their implementation;
   • evaluates and proposes to the Government the provision in the state budget of the necessary funds for the implementation of national strategies in the respective fields;
   • periodically informs the Government and the competent authorities with regard to undertaken activities and the achieved results;
   • proposes the measures which must be introduced for the surveillance, control, prevention and reduction of the social impact of cases of infection of TB and HIV/AIDS;
   • formulates proposals regarding the modification and completion of the legislation, as well as proposals regarding the development of new normative acts for the surveillance, control, prevention and reduction of the social impact of HIV/AIDS cases. The proposals will be forwarded to the competent institutions, which according to the law are responsible for initiating normative bills;
   • ensures compliance to the conventions, treaties and other international documents signed by Moldova with regard to respect for the rights of people ill of tuberculosis and living with HIV/AIDS;
   • promotes intersectorial partnership for the development and implementation of national Programmes and ensures transparency in the decision making process;
   • approves the structure of technical working groups and the heads odf specific areas;
   • approves the NCC Secretariat annual working plan, as well as the working plans of national Programmes for controlling HIV/AIDS/STI and TB developed by the technical working groups;
   • all other functions in order to accomplish its charter objectives, according to the legislation of Republic of Moldova.

III. National Coordination Council structure

8. National Coordination Council is structured in three levels:
   • Decision making level – NCC members
   • Coordination level – NCC Secretariat
   • Operational level – Technical Working Groups

9. NCC – decision making level – represents the highest decision making body. Its members are representatives of ministries, international organizations and institutions, nongovernmental organizations, people infected/affected by HIV/AIDS and through their activity contribute to the development and promotion of health politics in Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS/STI fields.

10. NCC member – decision making level – can be any institution or person who accepts the founding principles and promotes the idea of NCC capacity building inclusively the implementation of the activities of National HIV/AIDS/STI Prophylaxis and Control and TB control Programmes.
    The governmental organizations and the international agencies are represented by delegated persons and the representatives of NGOs, persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, charitable organizations, private organizations must be chosen by their own sector based on a transparent and documented process developed individually by each sector. The petition, the motivation letter and the protocol regarding the election process must be submitted to the NCC secretariat.
    Exclusion from the NCC is proceeded following a petition to the NCC president. Exclusion from the NCC are approved by at least 2/3 of the votes.

11. The NCC functions as a national group based on consensus. NCC members are equal partners, with full participation and decision making rights, the approval of the resolutions is done having at least 2/3 of the votes. NCC members can delegate their voting right to their authorized representatives.

12. The NCC decision making level meets not less than 4 times a year. The meetings are organized at the initiative of the President of NCC, or the Secretariat of the NCC, or the will of 1/3 of the members of the NCC by informing the Secretariat 1 month in advance. The meetings are chaired by the President of the NCC, in case the President is absent – by the Vice-president. Invited persons also participate in the NCC meetings: as raporteurs or observers without the right to vote.

13. Coordination Level of the NCC is ensured by the Secretariat of the Council which:
    • develops the annual work plan of the NCC Secretariat which includes the approximate dates of NCC meetings and activities between meetings. The Secretariat provides logistical support in organizing the meetings of the NCC;
    • at least 2 weeks in advance, the Secretariat develops the preliminary agenda of the meetings and disseminates it to the members of the NCC for any additional suggestions or changes. After the NCC meetings, the NCC minutes and decisions are disseminated to the NCC members by email;
    • formulates the resolutions and proposes them for approval during the NCC meetings;
    • facilitates the exchange of information which pertains to the implementation of national programmes among different partners through the on line bulletin and the informational printed bulletin;
    • monitors and ensures the regular activity of the technical working groups keeping the minutes for the meetings;
    • reports annually to NCC members on the activities undertaken and periodically informs the President about the NCC news.

14. The Operational Level is formed of Technical Working Groups that bring together experts from the fields of TB (of 5 persons) and HIV/AIDS (7 persons) representing the state, international and non-governmental sector.

    Types of technical working groups in TB:

    1. TB diagnosis;
    2. Management of classic and multidrugresistent TB and TB/AIDS co-infection;
    3. Control of TB infection;
    4. Communication and prevention.

    Types of technical working groups in HIV/AIDS:

    1. Epidemiologic and santinel surveillance in HIV/AIDS and STI;
    2. Social services: education and social assistance;
    3. Harm reduction;
    4. Treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS;
    5. Communication and prevention.
    There is a mixed technical working group: monitoring and evaluation of Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS/STI.

15. The members of technical working groups meets quarterly in ordinary meetings and upon necessity; Each TWG develops its individual work plan presented to the NCC Secretariat to initiate NCC members on the subjects discussed during the meetings and the undertaken activities. Responsible head and the secretary of the TWG are responsible for documenting the meetings in minutes that are presented afterwards to the NCC Secretariat.

    The tasks of the TWG:

    1. Provide technical support in the development of drafts of national strategies and programmes of control of HIV/AIDS/STI and TB;
    2. Provide technical support in the development of proposals for financial support from foreign donors or agencies;
    3. Monitor and evaluate the situation in the field of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS/STI, identify problems and offers solutions in the field participate in the development of national health strategies in the country.