#HelpNowPL continues to bring you the real stories about real people. These are stories about how multifaceted life can be for each of us: with achievements and losses, with victories and difficulties, with joys and pain. We hope that in them you will find solace, support, drive to fight, strength not to give up, and even energy to make changes. 

Andriy (name changed) contacted the #HelpNowPL hotline because he ran out of ART drugs and could not get them for free in Poland. He didn’t have a job, he didn’t have enough money to get a paid visit, and he also began to feel a strong deterioration in his general well-being.

At the time of the start of hostilities, Andrii was with his family in Poland, where he had been living with his family for some time. With the beginning of the war, Andriy, who had military experience behind him, decided to go to Ukraine and defend our country. In the summer, he was injured and hospitalized, where his HIV-positive status was discovered for the first time. At the time of the diagnosis, Andrii’s condition was very difficult, he was hospitalized for inpatient treatment at the AIDS center. There he received the necessary diagnosis and was prescribed antiretroviral therapy for three months.

Later, Andriy decided to go back to Poland, to his family. Unfortunately, he did not find support at home, neither with the earlier decision to go to war, nor with the acceptance of HIV-positive status. Troubles began in the family. As his physical and emotional condition was still not stable, he could not get a job. Eventually, he forgot about the need for lifelong ART and regular check-ups, and his condition continued to deteriorate. It was at this moment that he decided to turn to the Polish Hub for help.

In the process of accompanying Andrii, it became clear that he does not have access to medical insurance, as he is currently unemployed. He was denied the status of temporary protection in Poland because he previously had a “broken card”. Therefore, he could not even simply visit a doctor.

We found a way out in this situation as well: it was decided to help Andriy register with the “Uzhond” of labor and register as unemployed. This made it possible to renew access to insurance medicine and make an appointment with a doctor. The complexity of the situation also consisted in the fact that Andrii has a complex psycho-emotional state and post-traumatic stress disorder: today he wants to live, tomorrow he doesn’t. Sometimes he is ready to receive treatment and take steps in this direction, sometimes he is not. A psychologist of the project was connected to the cooperation, as well as a volunteer psychologist at the place of residence.

Our project specialist accompanied Andrii to the “work station” and to the doctor. Thanks to such a complex approach, when a consultant and a psychologist took part in the accompaniment, and as usual, Polish doctors went to our meeting and made an appointment with a doctor for the nearest time, with joint efforts we managed to provide help on time.

Andrii was hospitalized for examination and additional diagnostics. In connection with such a delay in seeking help, his condition worsened, and now he has complications with his vision. However, we have already come a long way together, and the first eye surgery is already scheduled for the beginning of March. Now we are waiting for the results of the examination, according to which the ATP will be re-appointed and renewed. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead – both from our side and from Andrii’s side. This is commitment work, eye surgery, mental health recovery and stabilization. But we are sure that together we will be able to overcome even the most difficult situations. 

You can turn to our Polish Hub – HelpNowPl for help and additional questions, which is now working specifically for Ukrainian citizens from key communities who were forced to leave their homes due to the war and are currently in Poland.

If you need information about necessary treatment, testing, medical assistance, legal and social issues, or you need translation services or social support to institutions, psychological help:

call our hotlines:

+48 539 652 831 Anna-Nadia

+48 786 640 460 Alina

+48 721 752 114 Vita

+48 571 850 855 Natalia

Write to us in Telegram https://t.me/+BSIMGdN3WT41MTVi

Online doctor consultation https://help24.org.ua/uk/doctors/126?hasavailableconsultation=true

We are ready to provide you with informational and psychological support!

You can find additional and more detailed information on our website https://helpnow.aph.org.ua/