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“I received the necessary information thanks to the HelpNow service!”

Oksana (name changed) is a social worker. She herself has been living with HIV+ status for almost 20 years, her son also belongs to the PLHIV community. For many years she worked by profession, first in Poltava in an NGO, then moved to Kyiv, then to Stryi (Lviv region). From there they left for Poland when the war started. Oksana said that they were at the border for 5 days because they fell into the first "wave" of refugees. The son was 17 years old at that time, so they were released together. The first two months were spent in Siedlce (Poland) with friends, but the therapy was ending, so the woman began to look for information on where to get it. "That's how I saw your contacts on Google for the first time. The manager answered very quickly and gave all the addresses. I was also interested in the situation regarding receiving ART in Gdansk, because we were planning to move there. I also received this information thanks to the HelpNow service, for which I am very grateful!"

Oksana (name changed) is a social worker. She herself has been living with HIV+ status for almost 20 years, her son also belongs to the PLHIV community. For many years she worked by profession, first in Poltava in an NGO, then moved to Kyiv, then to Stryi (Lviv region). From there they left for Poland when the war started. Oksana said that they were at the border for 5 days because they fell into the first “wave” of refugees. The son was 17 years old at that time, so they were released together. The first two months were spent in Siedlce (Poland) with friends, but the therapy was ending, so the woman began to look for information on where to get it. “That’s how I saw your contacts on Google for the first time. The manager answered very quickly and gave all the addresses. I was also interested in the situation regarding receiving ART in Gdansk, because we were planning to move there. I also received this information thanks to the HelpNow service, for which I am very grateful!”

After moving, Oksana and her son promptly registered, underwent examinations, and received an appointment for therapy. Barriers began to appear gradually. First, with the boy’s employment (he had already turned 18 at that time). Due to his work schedule, he could not always come to receive ART when he was prescribed. So Oksana started sharing her medicine so that there would be no interruption. She was issued for three months, and she came after one. “The woman at the ART office was very surprised why I appeared at her door so early. This continued until I learned from friends that it is possible to make a commission in my name and receive money for it. It helped.”

The woman shares that if there are no problems in the case of getting ART, it is difficult with the medical system in general: “Maybe we are so “lucky” with the hospital, because I hear that in Warsaw or Krakow everything is accessible and fast. But here, even an appointment with a family doctor takes a month, and tests take three. If you know the Polish language, they make concessions, and if not, you wait until they appoint it. What can I add… In short, it’s better at home!”