“I knew about my status back in Ukraine. Here, only my wife knows about it. For me, this is medical information that should not determine how other people treat me,” says Andrii (name changed).
Andrii arrived in Poland with his wife after the start of the full-scale war. Kraków was their first city, but they were unable to stay there for long. The couple moved several more times, primarily because of difficulties finding affordable housing and stable work. Eventually, Andrii found a job as a welder on a construction site. He says the work is not easy, but today he is satisfied that he can support himself and his family and gradually build a life in a new country.
Andrii knew about his HIV status before moving, and once in Poland, continuing his treatment became one of the important issues. At first, he needed information about where to go and how to access the necessary medical care within an unfamiliar system. The Fundacja HelpNowHUB team helped him with this by providing the necessary guidance on continuing his treatment.
After his initial medical examination, Polish doctors made some adjustments to Andrii’s treatment regimen. “As I understand it, the standards or approaches to treatment here are slightly different. The local doctor made some changes to my regimen. I feel well, so I’m satisfied with the result.”
The language barrier gradually stopped being a problem as well. Andrii learned Polish mainly through everyday life and at work. Many Ukrainians work alongside him on the construction site, and at first they helped with translation and explained words he did not understand. His employer helped too. “He already speaks almost Ukrainian himself,” Andrii laughs. “So the influence goes both ways: we learn Polish, and they learn Ukrainian from us.”
Andrii does not tell either his colleagues or acquaintances about his HIV status. In Poland, he has not encountered situations in which he was forced to disclose this information. His wife remains the only person he has consciously chosen to tell about his status. “My wife needs to know — that is obvious to me. But I don’t tell anyone else. Even my mother and sister don’t know. I know my family, and I think they might judge me without even trying to understand first. So I don’t see any point in discussing it.”
After several moves and searches for housing and work, the couple’s life has finally become more stable. Andrii works, receives the treatment he needs, speaks Polish, and feels much more confident in a country that was completely unfamiliar to him just a few years ago. “I’m happy with everything now. I work, I receive treatment, and I feel well. And I’m very grateful that I can live and work here. I think that is the most important thing.”
***
This publication was prepared by Fundacją HelpNow HUB within the framework of the project “From heart to heart” in partnership with Fundacja Step by Step and Fundacja Res Humanae, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.