The red ribbon is a global symbol in the movement to address AIDS. The Red Ribbon Award is designed to honor and celebrate outstanding personal and community initiatives that show involvement and leadership in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS at the national level. In order to mark the World AIDS Day (December 1), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Moldova, supported by the UN JT on HIV/AIDS and World AIDS Campaign (WAC) in Moldova organized a contest for the best and most valuable initiatives and actions on behalf of individuals and organizations in the national response to HIV/AIDS.
The contest was open to all citizens of the Republic of Moldova, as they could nominate individuals or organizations/institutions both governmental and non-governmental that show involvement in the national response to AIDS. The individual/organization which accumulated more nominations was awarded. The contest was organized during the period of October 22 – November 25, 2009 and nominations could be done through www.aids.md. Results of the contest were made public during the Red Ribbon Award ceremony, which took place on occasion of World AIDS Day, marked annually on December 1.
The winners of the contest according to the criteria are as it follows:
Individuals who showed involvement in the national response to HIV/AIDS and outstanding attitude toward people living with HIV/AIDS
- Best infectious doctor – Svetlana Popovici, Republican Dermato-venerological Dispensary
- Best general practitioner – Ecaterina Rotaru, National Centre of HIV Prevention and Control
- Best social worker – Diana Doros, Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family
- Best priest/pastor active – Priest Octavian Mosin, Mitropoly of Moldova
- Best activist – Alexandru Curasov, League of people living with HIV of Moldova
Organizations which are mostly involved in the national response to HIV/AIDS and demonstrate outstanding attitude toward people living with HIV/AIDS
- Best organization/institution working in HIV prevention and communication – AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) Moldova
- Best organization/institution working with vulnerable groups – NGO "New Life"
- Best organization/institution providing access to care and support for people living with HIV – League of people living with HIV of Moldova
- Best organization/institution working with young people – NGO "Youth for Right to Live", Balti
- Best private sector entity, which promotes and implements HIV/AIDS workplace policy – company RED Union Fenosa