Tag: Ukraine

Protecting your rights and dignity: supporting a client of OST in Ukraine

Post author By velyunsky
Post date June 19, 2024

Lyubov (name changed) is a woman living with HIV who used to inject drugs in the past. She is in a civil marriage with a man who is also HIV-positive and has a history of substance use. Both are patients of the OST program. On their way home from the drop-in center, where they had received self-administered medication, the couple was stopped by police officers. They began to humiliate them, treat them rudely, pick their pockets, and search them without any reason.

Although the clients informed the police that they were taking OST and showed all the necessary documents, no one listened to them, and the couple was taken to the police station. The woman called the organization. Upon hearing about such illegal actions of the police, the REActor and a social worker of the organization came to the defense of the couple. They contacted the police by phone with the doctor who had prescribed the drugs. The doctor explained that everything was legal and that the patients had no problems with taking the drugs. After that, the couple was released.

After coming to the organization with words of gratitude, the client refused to seek legal assistance because she did not believe that the police officers would be punished. She was also offered counseling by the organization’s psychologist and group training to restore her psycho-emotional state.

Defending the right to medical care in Ukraine

Post author By velyunsky
Post date May 20, 2024

Natalia (name changed) appealed to the documentarian with a complaint against an oncologist who refused to provide medical services. The woman said that she had been referred by her doctor to an oncology clinic for examination, having an electronic referral. At the oncologist’s appointment, she verbally informed him of her HIV-positive status. The doctor refused to conduct an examination and recommended that she see a doctor at the AIDS Center.

The REActor met with the deputy chief physician to discuss the violation of her client’s rights to medical care by the hospital staff member. After listening to the situation, the deputy agreed that the patient’s rights had been violated and had a conversation with the oncologist. After that, Natalia made an appointment for a second visit.

At the appointment, the oncologist conducted the necessary examination and testing. The client received the necessary medical care, which she was initially denied, and can now continue her treatment according to the established plan.

The story of a pregnant girl fighting for her health in Ukraine

Post author By velyunsky
Post date April 19, 2024

Hanna (name changed) went to a gynecologist at her place of residence because of pain in her lower abdomen. After an examination, she was diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage in the short term. After all the necessary tests, it turned out that the girl was HIV positive. She was not informed about this in an incorrect form, and instead of support and measures to preserve her pregnancy, she was strongly advised to terminate the pregnancy. The doctor argued that the child would be born sick, with a positive HIV status and possibly with other developmental disabilities.

Hanna was shocked by the doctor’s reaction and left without registering for pregnancy. At home, she started bleeding from stress and was quickly taken to the hospital. There, after learning about her positive status, she was still provided with help, although they hinted that she was a “special” patient and it would be nice to “pay”.

By chance, the girl found the organization and asked for help. The REActor introduced her to a social worker who began to take care of her, and they discussed an action plan to meet her needs. The REActor very correctly and professionally advised the girl on all issues related to her positive status, and accompanied her to the infectious disease specialist of the city AIDS center, where she was registered and prescribed ART therapy without any problems.

In addition, Hanna was offered a consultation with the organization’s psychologist to stabilize her psychological state and legal advice. The client continues to receive psychological counseling to stabilize her condition. She did not want to write a complaint in order not to return to a state of stress. The girl often visits the organization, receives therapy, and tries to improve her personal life.

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