“Moldova has become my second home.” How Ukrainian refugees living with HIV find peace and access to treatment

“A rocket landed right next to us,” recalls Olga*, a young mother who fled Ukraine after the full-scale war began in 2022. Forced to leave her home with nothing but her infant son, Olga crossed into Moldova while fleeing an active war zone.

After the first bombings, the hospital’s patients were evacuated to Moldova. Olga didn’t hesitate. “I feared for my child’s life, and that’s how I ended up here,” she says, her voice trembling.

At the time, her son was just one year old and had fragile health. He required constant medical supervision, and when the war broke out they were already in hospital for routine care. After the first bombardments, patients were evacuated, and Olga was among them. She did not hesitate to leave. “I feared for my child’s life, and that’s how I ended up here,” she says, her voice trembling.

At the Palanca border crossing, UNHCR, the Government of Moldova and humanitarian organizations were assisting refugees arriving from Ukraine, helping them find shelter and basic services. Olga and her son were directed to Cimișlia, a town that would soon become her second home. There, she found people willing to support her during an uncertain and painful transition.

Alongside the trauma of displacement, Olga carried another heavy concern. She was living with HIV. She learned about her diagnosis after giving birth and had been receiving treatment in Ukraine. When she fled, she managed to bring with her several months’ supply of medication, but she worried about what would happen once it ran out.

Fear of stigma initially prevented her from speaking openly about her condition. When her medication ran out, she travelled to a clinic in Chișinău, where she received care and support. Later, arrangements were made so she could collect her treatment directly in Cimișlia, closer to home.

The “Prietenos Tinerilor” centre operates within the Cimișlia Health Center, offering an integrated and discreet environment. Olga visits the centre much like any other patient, picking up her medication and accessing a range of services. She can consult a psychologist, social worker, gynecologist, pediatrician, and other specialists, as well as receive support from volunteers.

Beyond medical care, the centre has given her a sense of stability. Psychological support has been particularly important as she copes with anxiety, separation from family, and ongoing uncertainty. The calm atmosphere and welcoming staff help her manage the stress of worrying about loved ones still in Ukraine. “At first, I was very anxious about those at home and everything I left behind. The fear is still there, but it’s easier to manage,” she says.

With the help of a psychologist, Olga also learned to cope with episodes of stigmatization that complicated her integration into the community. Her earliest months in Moldova were marked by solidarity. “At first, people helped us a lot—with groceries, with whatever they could. They behaved very respectfully.”

That changed after her HIV status became known. “They said I was contagious and attributed diseases to me that I didn’t even know about. It was hard,” says Olga. Still, she believes the reactions are largely driven by misinformation rather than hostility. “Many people don’t know what this diagnosis means or how the virus is actually transmitted.”

Ongoing counselling remains a vital source of support. “The psychologist is a great support to me. I call her and we talk—she helps me calm down, especially when I’m feeling down after talking to my relatives in Ukraine.”

Over time, Olga’s perspective on Moldova has shifted. It is no longer just a place of refuge. “I want to stay here and get citizenship. My daughter is already a Moldovan citizen,” she says. Returning to Ukraine no longer feels possible. “I have nowhere to return to in Ukraine. Everything I have now is here.”

In Cahul, at the headquarters of the “Pas cu Pas South Region” Association, director Svetlana Ciobanu reflects on the organization’s work with refugees since the first days of the war. From the outset, the association mobilized in areas including public health, human rights, and education.

“At first, we were like that cushion of safety and security. We welcomed refugees, housed them, and provided them with basic necessities. Today, we’re already working on their integration into society,” she explains.

For Svetlana, integration goes far beyond emergency assistance. It means ensuring that people can rebuild their lives with dignity and continuity, particularly when it comes to health. Many refugees depend on uninterrupted access to HIV treatment, and the association works closely with medical services to support both continued therapy and HIV testing.

“Our success is when a person gets on ARV treatment. When a woman from Ukraine on antiretroviral treatment gave birth to a healthy baby in Moldova. For us, that is a huge achievement” she says.

Fear and stigma remain major barriers. “Of course, at first the refugees are very afraid to talk about their status, and even now many are not ready to speak openly” Svetlana explains.

Pas cu Pas, with the support of UNAIDS and UNHCR, prioritizes long-term support. Within the organization, a multidisciplinary team provides that safety net. “We have doctors, we have nurses, and we have psychologists and social workers on staff.”

Svetlana is convinced that trust and patience make the difference. “I’m sure that anything can be communicated and a solution can be found for any problem. But to find that ‘key’ to a person, you need time. You need communication, you need care, you need love, and lots and lots of patience.”

“They told me where to get my tests done and how to take the pills”

Soon after, Maria*, originally from Odessa, arrives at the association accompanied by her young daughter. She left Ukraine in 2021, shortly before the full-scale war began. “I decided to leave before the war started. I realized the danger would be everywhere, so I decided not to risk my life,” she says.

After settling in Moldova, Maria learned she was HIV-positive. The diagnosis came at a moment when she believed her life had finally stabilized. “I was simply lost; I wasn’t myself anymore when I found out about this illness. I felt very, very bad,” she recalls.

Support from Pas cu Pas helped her regain her footing. “They helped me tremendously: they explained how HIV works, how to take my medication, and everything else I needed to know, as well as why it’s so important to get tested regularly, without fail,” Maria says.

Like Olga, Maria has access to free HIV treatment services in Moldova and speaks with gratitude about the care she received. Moldova, she says, is no longer temporary. When asked whether she plans to return to Ukraine one day, she answers without hesitation: “I have nowhere to go back to. I have no one left in Ukraine and no home either; everything was bombed. My only home is now in Moldova.”

Her own experience has motivated her to help others. “Whenever I met people from Ukraine, I told them all about it and advised them where to go, to join the organization here,” she says.

*To protect the privacy of the interviewees, the names of the refugees used in this article are fictitious.

UNHCR, together with UNAIDS and five local partners across Moldova, is expanding access to HIV prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and gender-based violence (GBV) support for marginalized groups and Ukrainian refugees. The initiative combines individualized case management with targeted community outreach to ensure services reach those most at risk. Working closely with public institutions, the project strengthens coordination, builds national and local capacities, and promotes respect for human rights. Through tailored support including legal assistance, psychosocial services, peer-led outreach, mobile units, and essential item distribution, isolated and vulnerable individuals—including people living with HIV, sex workers, and LGBTIQ+ persons—receive accurate information, testing, referrals, and survivor-centred GBV assistance.
We thank Switzerland for supporting the most vulnerable refugees. Your contribution is helping refugees in Moldova rebuild their lives with dignity and safety.