Category: News Archive

JAK WYKONAĆ TEST NA HIV W POLSCE?

Istnieje kilka możliwości przenoszenia wirusa HIV:

• podczas stosunku seksualnego bez prezerwatywy;

• poprzez wspólne lub ponowne użycie strzykawek i igieł w przypadku zażywania narkotyków, manipulacji medycznych, piercingu i tatuaży;

· na dziecko od matki zakażonej wirusem HIV, w czasie ciąży, porodu i karmienia piersią.

Wbrew pogłoskom i obawom, HIV nie jest przenoszony przez:

• ugryzienia owadów;

• wspólne ręczniki i naczynia kuchenne;

• wspólne korzystanie z wanny, basenu, toalety, prysznica;

• pocałunki (jeśli nie ma silnego krwawienia z dziąseł).

Pamiętaj: większość objawów HIV i AIDS jest podobna do objawów innych chorób. Tylko na podstawie wyników testu na obecność wirusa HIV można ustalić, czy masz HIV w swoim organizmie.

Regularne testowanie na obecność wirusa HIV jest koniecznością dla każdego, kto prowadzi aktywne życie seksualne lub praktykuje ryzykowne zachowania.

Testy, które są tańsze wykrywają obecność przeciwciał przeciwko wirusowi we krwi i są wykonywane „metodą ekspresową” poprzez pobranie krwi z palca. Szybkie testy pozwalają przetestować się prawie w warunkach „polowych” i poznać wynik w ciągu 10-15 minut.

Inne testy, droższe i bardziej wiarygodne, wykonuje się poprzez pobranie krwi z żyły w placówce medycznej metodą ELISA – enzymatyczny test immunosorpcyjny. W takim przypadku na wynik należy poczekać 3-4 dni, ale dokładność tej metody jest znacznie wyższa niż w szybkich testach.

Jeśli podejrzewasz, że możesz być zarażony wirusem HIV, koniecznie zrób test!

Badanie wykonuje się w jednym z punktów konsultacyjno-diagnostycznych, których adresy znajdują się na stronie Narodowego Centrum AIDS w Polsce: https://aids.gov.pl/pkd/

W punktach konsultacyjno-diagnostycznych badania wykonywane są bez skierowania, anonimowo, bezpłatnie, przez profesjonalnie certyfikowanych konsultantów, którzy w przypadku potwierdzenia infekcji udzielą wsparcia, niezbędnych informacji oraz skierują do odpowiednich specjalistów.

OSTRZEŻENIE! W nagłych przypadkach zagrożenia zakażeniem wirusem HIV, takich jak gwałt, zranienie igłą niewiadomego pochodzenia lub inne zdarzenie, należy pamiętać o profilaktyce poekspozycyjnej (PEP). Należy jak najszybciej (najlepiej w ciągu 48 godzin od zdarzenia) skontaktować się ze szpitalem chorób zakaźnych, który prowadzi terapię antyretrowirusową. Leki stosowane w profilaktyce poekspozycyjnej są bezpłatne. Listę odpowiednich placówek medycznych w Polsce można znaleźć na: https://aids.gov.pl/co-robic/

Możesz zgłosić się o pomoc i dodatkowe pytania do naszego Polskiego hubu HelpNowPl, które obecnie działa specjalnie dla obywateli Ukrainy z kluczowych społeczności, którzy zostali zmuszeni do opuszczenia swoich domów z powodu wojny i są obecnie w Polsce.

Jeśli potrzebujesz informacji na temat niezbędnego leczenia, badań, opieki medycznej, kwestii prawnych i socjalnych, usług tłumaczeniowych lub wsparcia socjalnego dla instytucji, pomocy psychologicznej:

Zadzwoń na nasze numery infolinii:

+48 539 652 831 Anna-Nadia

+48 786 640 460 Alina

+48 721 752 114 Vita

Pomoc psychologiczna:

+48 571 850 855 Katarzyna

Konsultacja lekarza online https://help24.org.ua/uk/doctors/126

Napisz do nas w Telegramie https://t.me/+BSIMGdN3WT41MTVi

Jesteśmy gotowi udzielić Ci wsparcia informacyjnego i psychologicznego!

Dodatkowe i bardziej szczegółowe informacje znajdziesz na naszej stronie internetowej https://helpnow.aph.org.ua/

«THEY DID TEST FOR FREE AND IMMEDIATELY PRESCRIBED THERAPY FOR 3 MONTHS»

Valentyna (name changed) is from Mariupol city – already known all over the world. Now the woman is safe in Frankfurt am Main, but talking about recent events is not easy for her. She says that she has been taking ART for 10 years, and she was registered in the native city. But when the russian invaders came, she had a break – the woman was 20 days without therapy. Valentyna had to leave. First, she got to Donetsk (and stayed there for 3 days), then to her relatives in Rostov-on-Don. She registered there, but realized that she would not stay. That’s why she decided to go and managed to reach Germany. At first she lived in a refugee camp. There was still therapy, but the remnants were negligible. Therefore, Valentyna began to look for opportunities to receive ART in a new place. She found the HelpNow service on Facebook, and contacted the indicated contacts. She was given the numbers of the German team, whose manager contacted her very quickly. The woman was registered for an appointment with a russian-speaking doctor, and put on the register as well.

“The doctor asked everything in detail, then they did tests for free and immediately prescribed therapy for 3 months, although at that time I did not even have health insurance. In October, go for a new dose of medicine. On the part of the doctors, everything is correct and benevolent. Many thanks to your and German teams, especially to the manager Larysa – such a sensitive person, she helped me a lot. Without you, everything would definitely be much longer and more difficult!”

«THANKS TO HELPNOW, I ALREADY KNOW WHERE TO TURN»

Serhiy is now in Szczecin, although before that he lived in Sokhachev and Warsaw for the past 8 months. He is from the city of Lubny, Poltava region. He went to Poland at the beginning of February for work, so the news about the war caught him already in a foreign land. He admits that he was embarrassed when he heard.

Since 2020, he was registered at the Poltava AIDS Center and was coming home for ART until February. The doctor gave it for 3 months, there were no problems. “The last time my mother received it for me, delivered it by bus. But it’s such a risk, so I decided to look for therapy dispensing centers here. I googled, found your service, wrote. The very next day, I had the addresses of all the nearest institutions in my hands. I went to one of them and asked what was needed to receive and receive medication. I have medical insurance, documents – all this, so there should be no problems. Yes, it’s good that Ukraine still has medicine, but if anything – thanks to HelpNow, I already know where to turn. Thank you for your help and work. Very useful!”

«You immediately understand that you will not be left behind»

The first time Artem (name changed) tried to get to his sister in Germany with his sick parents back in March. The road from Kyiv was difficult – first by train to Kovel, standing, then by bus to the border with Poland. His parents, who are already over 70 years old, were released, but he, a disabled person of the 3rd group, was not. He was told to go to the Military Commissariat and resolve all issues there.

The return home took a long time: at first, Artem spent two months with relatives in Lviv. Having been on substitution therapy since 2018, he used the leftovers he had, and then arranged with a friend who delivered buprenorphine by delivery service from the capital (rumors spread that there was not enough therapy in Lviv). Artem returned to Kyiv in May. He was given medication for one month, then another. Finally, in July, the issue with documents for departure was also resolved, the man ended up in Germany. He admits that after his arrival he planned to gradually leave therapy, attend courses, and adapt on his own. He started taking two pills at a time, then one at a time… But he didn’t expect that he wouldn’t be able to, and there was critically little medicine left. The condition was extremely difficult, it was necessary to urgently look for a place to receive therapy in a new country. “The next few days were a nightmare, I googled for help. So, I found to the HelpNow site. I contacted the service, you quickly gave me the contacts of the German hotline,” says Artem. “Many thanks to their manager Roman – he sent me all contacts, told when it is better to go to the clinic. Of course, it is better to do all this not when the medicine has already run out, but at least a week before. I lost that moment and regretted it very much.”

Artem had all the documents (residence permit, medical insurance). Together with his sister, they came to a medical center, where he was asked to make all the tests. Artem did not expect that the therapy would be issued on the same day and was very surprised when he was asked to go to the pharmacy after the appointment to get medication.

“They issue everything for free. The attitude is good, everything is ok for me – I was really very impressed. Yes, there are certain obstacles, such as the language barrier, but this is secondary. Your service is very helpful, such a support. You immediately understand that you will not be left behind. Thank you!”

CO WARTO WIEDZIEĆ O GRUŹLICY

Gruźlica to choroba zakaźna wywoływana przez prątki gruźlicy. Uważa się, że jest to choroba płuc, ale w rzeczywistości gruźlica może zaatakować prawie wszystkie narządy człowieka.

MUSISZ WIEDZIEĆ!

Zakażenie gruźlicą jest takie samo jak gruźlica. Większość ludzi jest nosicielami infekcji. Ale tylko wtedy, gdy układ odpornościowy jest osłabiony różnymi chorobami, złym odżywianiem, nadużywaniem alkoholu lub narkotyków, patogeny gruźlicy (prątki) stają się aktywne i pojawia się choroba „gruźlica”: pojawiają się objawy choroby i człowiek może zarazić innych.

OBJAWY GRUŹLICY

Następujące objawy są powodem do jak najszybszej wizyty u lekarza:

· kaszel, który trwa dłużej niż dwa tygodnie

· utrata wagi

· brak apetytu

· przedłużony wzrost temperatury ciała

· nocne poty

· słabość

· zmęczenie

· ból w klatce piersiowej

· krwioplucie

OSTRZEŻENIE!

W przypadku najmniejszego podejrzenia gruźlicy konieczne jest skonsultowanie się z lekarzem pierwszego kontaktu w placówce medycznej. On udzieli skierowań i niezbędnych informacji do dalszego badania i leczenia. Jest też projekt misji Lekarze bez Granic w Polsce, w ramach którego pacjenci z Ukrainy mogą otrzymać niezbędne leczenie.

Nie powinniśmy zapominać, że istnieją pozapłucne formy gruźlicy, które objawiają się specyficznymi objawami, w zależności od umiejscowienia procesu.

Jak zapobiegać gruźlicy?

• Najlepszym sposobem uniknięcia gruźlicy jest wzmocnienie układu odpornościowego.

• Bezpośrednie światło słoneczne zabija różdżkę Kocha w ciągu pięciu minut!

• Częściej wietrzyć pomieszczenie i regularnie przeprowadzać czyszczenie na mokro.

• Jeśli miałeś bliski kontakt z pacjentem z otwartą postacią gruźlicy, wskazane jest skonsultowanie się z lekarzem, który zaleci profilaktyczne leczenie specjalnymi lekami przeciwgruźliczymi.

Pamiętaj: gruźlicę można wyleczyć!

zadzwoń na nasze numery infolinii:

+48 539 652 831 Anna-Nadia

+48 786 640 460 Alina

+48 721 752 114 Vita

+48 571 850 855 Katarzyna

Pomoc psychologiczna:

+48 571 850 855 Katarzyna

Konsultacja lekarza online https://help24.org.ua/uk/doctors/126

Napisz do nas w Telegramie https://t.me/+BSIMGdN3WT41MTVi

Jesteśmy gotowi udzielić Ci wsparcia informacyjnego i psychologicznego!

Dodatkowe i bardziej szczegółowe informacje znajdziesz na naszej stronie internetowej https://helpnow.aph.org.ua/

#HelpNow HUB — 6 months being near you to help where you are!

Help, like care or sensitivity, is difficult to measure with available numbers because behind every appeal is someone’s life and health, which cannot be “assessed.” However, in the conditions of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, which has changed the lives of millions, we want Ukrainians, especially from key population groups, to know about existing, tangible help that is very close regardless of their location – the HelpNow project. And the opportunities they can get thanks to it.

The HelpNow service was launched on March 1. In the first two months, it became a comprehensive hub with the key work principles: “Information – Navigation – Coordination” to provide comprehensive support and ensure access to essential services for vulnerable communities in Ukraine and abroad. That is why, besides the general HelpNow service, there are the online platform HelpNow.aph.org.ua , two regional HelpNow hubs in Germany and Poland. There is also a medical component called HelpNow doctors, which is unique for Ukraine. Here the specialists are available every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., providing online comprehensive, qualified assistance to Ukrainians living with HIV and other key population groups on the Help24 website (help24.org.ua).

What does the work of these components mean in numbers? More than 10,000 Ukrainians applied for and received help in the first seven months, thanks to the Hub’s HelpNow services. More than 45 publications, including nearly 15 educational and informational materials and publications for key population groups, were posted on the website of the HelpNow.aph.org.ua platform. The number of countries where the requests of key group representatives come from has already reached 40.

Analyzing the work of the HelpNow hub, we can confidently say that it is in demand not only thanks to innovative functions but also primarily due to the team’s personal approach to everyone. But we are not resting on our laurels. We will continue to develop our service to help as many Ukrainians as possible from among PLHIV and key population groups who need help in this tough time.

Remember – help is nearby, and it cannot wait!

HelpNow report Download

«The attitude is very positive, the staff is wonderful – they always ask how it is at home»

The pain of understanding that you have to leave your home is no less painful for internally displaced persons than for those who crossed the borders of Ukraine. Oksana from Bakhmut (Donetsk region) has been in Zhytomyr with her whole family since June. She says that when they moved, they thought that a month would be the maximum. That is why she asked her doctor for ART for this period. But time passed, and the situation still remained difficult. The woman has been taking therapy for ten years and never planned to take a break. So she started looking for opportunities to get medicine in a new place. “I am signed in Telegram to the Ministry of Social Policy channel.» – says Oksana. “There was a message about humanitarian aid and a link to your service – I decided to write.”

According to the woman, she was quickly given the address of the center where she can apply. On the spot, Oksana was immediately taken to the head of the hospital, who listened to her carefully and sent her to the doctor’s office. She asked everything in detail, made a medical card, and the woman was given medicine for three months.

“Thank you for your help! Now they called me again and asked if I was still here, how I was feeling and if I could come for tests. The attitude is very positive, the staff is wonderful – they always ask how it is at home. What can I say, yes, there was an opportunity to go abroad, but why should we flee from our own land? We stayed. We believe in our Armed Forces and that we will soon return home.”

Are you in Germany and need substitution therapy? We will help!

In a series of videos from the German HelpNow team, we share life hacks and recommendations for OST (OAT) patients.

In this video, you will find answers to the following questions:

– the difference in receiving medical care in Ukraine and Germany

– when they will be able to hand out the drugs;

– why they may refuse treatment

Take care and be healthy!

«The attitude of the employees of the partner fund is very responsible and professional»

For many, Turkey looks like a country where any problems recede into the background, but for Ukrainian refugees from key population groups, it is a place where you can face unexpected difficulties.

Natalya from Kyiv, has been taking ART since 2018. Because of the war, she first sought refuge in Georgia, then in Turkey. She says that in Georgia there were no problems in receiving therapy – it is enough to come to a medical institution with a passport and therapy will be issued for a month. The only problem with taking tests is that the service is paid.

But in May, the circumstances turned out to be such that Natalya was forced to leave Georgia and go to Turkey. There was a small reserve of medicine left, for two weeks. The woman was sure that there would be no problems, because her doctor from Kyiv transferred the therapy with a friend who was going to see her. But the medicine did not arrive due to difficulties at customs, and Natalya urgently began to look for someone who could help in the new country. It turned out to be difficult – Turkey has its own peculiarities in medicine, and even more so for refugees, so the break in taking ART was a month. And finally, the woman came across a link about HelpNow and turned to the service’s Telegram. Then the process went very quickly – she was given the contacts of a local foundation that manages Ukrainian refugees from key groups. Since Natalya had all the medical records from Ukraine on hand, she quickly made an appointment with a doctor, and after a couple of days went to the pharmacy to get the therapy.

“Thank you very much for creating such international support and for being interested in feedback, so I want to share the experience that I received and hope it will be useful to our community. Therapy in Turkey is issued only three times, each for a month. If you continue to stay in the country, you need to get an ikomet – a residence permit. And only after a year, when you will get it, you will be able to receive therapy. There is still a nuance with medical tests. Since I had a break, I wanted to check my viral load. There are only four places in the country where you can do this for free, and they are scattered very far from me. I asked to find a private clinic, but closer. The contact was found, but at first, they offered to do a general blood test. When they agreed to do the necessary one and I asked to send the result to e-mail, they said it was impossible. Only if a person with his passport is present. And after that they also wrote in the messenger that I have to take the test again, it will be sent to the Turkish Ministry of Health and only after that, in two (!) weeks, I will be given the results. Did I agree? Of course not.”

Natalya notes that the attitude of the employees of the partner fund is very responsible and professional, but the stay in the country for a person with HIV has a number of nuances. And she immediately happily adds that he is coming home soon. To her native Kyiv.

HelpNow doctors are always with you

Do you need a doctor’s consultation? Can’t visit a medical facility? Are you abroad and can’t find the proper specialist?

HelpNow doctors on your smartphone 7 days a week!

Help24 is a Ukrainian doctors’ platform offering comprehensive, qualified assistance based on a multidisciplinary approach to support the continuous provision of medical services to Ukrainians living with HIV and other key population groups.

26 infectious diseases doctors from all over Ukraine provide online help. They are HelpNow doctors who keep in touch with 360 other doctors in Ukraine and are directly involved in helping people with HIV.

help24.org.ua