My name is Irina and I am 29 years old. My husband is on the staff of “Viata Noua” (“New Life”, an NGO in Moldova) where he coordinates work of the drug rehabilitation centre. We have been married for 3 years.

My husband has been living with HIV for 12 years, but I am HIV-negative. Before we got married I read about HIV/AIDS from various sources and afterwards we attended various seminars on these topics. However, I really liked the two Mildmay seminars that we attended not far from Chisinau, Moldova. They were more helpful than others, and I am very thankful to the organizations involved (ISAAC, Geneva Global, First Fruit and Samaritan’s Purse in the UK and in Ireland). The main thing for me was the atmosphere at the seminars. It was friendly and conducive for sharing openly. I didn’t know most of the other participants at the seminars, yet because of the safe atmosphere I could be open and sincere. I applied everything that was said there to myself, even though before going I expected only to listen to ‘dry information’. Attending the Mildmay seminars was a wonderful time of spiritual and emotional freedom, and the experience is still fresh in my memory.

I remember what I felt when my husband wanted to reveal his HIV status to strangers. I remember what I experienced, what I thought and how I coped with that.  Because of the safe environment I could not remain indifferent. Even though I knew some of the information that was taught I heard it in a new way.  Many of the topics covered were the ones that I specifically wanted to know more about.  We spoke about discordant couples and I learnt new things in that area.  Hearing about conception, pregnancy and delivery I understood that by following all of the instructions it is possible for me to give birth to a healthy baby and not to contract HIV myself. The topic was relevant to me because we are planning to start a family.

I also wanted to learn more about opportunistic infections, and that was another subject that we covered.  It was a bit scary to listen to this and look at the photos but to avoid the subject is not an option: it will not help to avoid the infections.  I think that I need to be aware of the things that might happen with my husband, myself and our future children – and yet to hope for the best!

I really enjoyed hearing about and doing the practical exercises in counselling. It was also important for me to learn about adherence to ART (antiretroviral therapy). It made me realise the importance of motivating people to start ART (if necessary) and educating them about consequences of not following the instructions.

These seminars have been very helpful and relevant for me. I came to a conclusion that the life of a person living with HIV in many ways depends on themselves: on their attitude to life, their heath, their diet, adherence to therapy etc. The seminars were taught in a very efficient way - I still remember everything that I heard there. After the seminars I have changed the way I share information about HIV and AIDS with people, I listen to them in a different way, and support them in a better way. Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to participate in these seminars!

After the seminars I have changed the way I share information about HIV and AIDS with people, I listen to them in a different way, and support them in a better way. Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to participate in these seminars!

Irina (Moldova)