Meet the 2024 Healthcare Provider Champions - Europe

Ferhat nominated Metin Sinan Elmalıoğlu for:

When you first receive the diagnosis, you get confused and ask yourself, “What will happen to me from now on?” This is exactly when I met Sinan. With a few pieces of paper in hand, I left the hospital and headed to the pharmacy. When I first heard about him, I was overwhelmed with thoughts like, what kind of person he would be and whether he would exclude me or treat me like a pitiable person. When I entered his pharmacy with uncertainties in my mind and told him that I was living with HIV, his reaction surprised me greatly.

When even my family didn't know about my status and I had only told one peer counsellor from the Pozitif-iz Association over the phone, I told Sinan face-to-face. I was met with a warmth like that of a family. Just like someone from my family, he told me, "You are not guilty, so don't be upset. Stay calm. This is a normal situation. No one can question you or say anything bad to you. This is quite normal, and we are with you in every situation." This somewhat comforted me and I felt the warmth of his heart.

There were times when I entered the pharmacy with my morale low and eyes filled with tears from heartbreak, and he supported me like a big brother. There were times when he mobilized his healthcare friends to help solve another health problem I had. He covered the cost of my medicine without asking for any payment on days when I was financially struggling and the healthcare system didn't cover my medication. Sinan is one of the rare people who shows that not everything is about money and that there are more important things in life. Whether it was night or day, whenever I wrote or called, he answered all my questions without getting bored or tired, and he continues to do so.

There are many more things I want to say but cannot express. I believe words are not enough to describe him.

Metin Sinan Elmalıoğlu: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

"But they have AIDS" was the last sentence I heard before I delved into the depths of my memory for any textbook information to console my friend about the love of their life. We were on a park bench, and they had been seeking my shoulder to cry on for the past week, but I had been preoccupied with my finals. I still cannot decide what hurts me more: postponing responding to a friend's cry for help or being completely oblivious about a vital health issue as a student about to be granted a diploma and a licence to practice pharmacy in a couple of months. Back then, no thanks to the media, neither HIV nor AIDS was very visible in Türkiye. Students like myself usually paid more attention to mainstream topics, mostly related to family – and believe me, Turkish grandmothers have almost all the chronic conditions you can think of.

I had to redeem my ignorance, and the first step was to learn more about HIV. Soon enough, I discovered an event called the Living Library, where people read stigmatized individuals as if they were books in order to overcome their biases. Reading the "HIV positive" book not only gave a new direction to my career, but also gave me a friend for life.

After graduating, I applied for a master’s degree in clinical pharmacy, which was available to a limited number of pharmacists each year. As the programme neared its end, I decided to complete my project on HIV treatment and the interactions between clinical pharmacists and people living with HIV. My professor was initially taken aback by the unusual topic I chose; however, in the end, we produced a guide in Turkish, which was not available at that time.

Over the years, as a community pharmacist, I have had the privilege of meeting many healthy people living with HIV, and I am still doing my best to change "But they have AIDS" into "They are living with HIV and are as healthy as a radish" – as we Turks would say.

* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Ali nominated Ayşe Akaltun for:

I have learnt from personal experiences how crucial HIV diagnosis and counselling are. I received my initial diagnosis at a laboratory, but I did not receive adequate and necessary counselling. This led to significant negative impacts on my life, and I had to live with this burden for years.

Years later, I discovered the existence of a voluntary counselling and testing centre, and during a visit, I met Ayşe. This encounter was a turning point in my life. Ayşe provided me with access to current, comprehensive and scientifically based information about HIV. Thanks to her, I took the first steps in making peace with HIV. I went to the centre as someone who refused treatment, but under Ayşe's guidance, I returned understanding the importance of treatment.

I believe that professionals working in voluntary counselling centres, like Ayşe, play a critical role in the lives of those living with HIV. Considering that I was frequently subjected to discrimination by infectious disease specialists at that time, Ayşe's attitude and approach, her knowledge and non-judgemental, sex-positive approach were very valuable and important to me. The discrimination I faced was not related only to my HIV status but also linked to my identities as a migrant and an LGBTQ+ individual. However, my experiences with Ayşe empowered me not only regarding my identity living with HIV, but also strengthened my confidence in my migrant and queer identities.

Ayşe's sincerity and supportive approach greatly helped me overcome many challenges. Through her, I learnt that I was not alone, that I had someone to support me, and that HIV was not what I thought it was. Ayşe truly deserves recognition for her efforts to improve the lives of those living with HIV.

This is why I wanted to nominate her. I know that dedicated and empathetic healthcare professionals like her make a significant difference in the lives of those living with HIV, and for this reason, I wholeheartedly nominate Ayşe. The social support, information and guidance Ayşe provides to those living with HIV not only enhance their quality of life, but also contribute to raising awareness on this issue in society. Her non-judgemental approach, accepting and supporting every individual as they are, leaves a profound impact on many lives.

Ayşe's dedicated work and sincere attitude positively change the lives of those living with HIV and empower them. Highlighting the value and impact of healthcare professionals like her will help spread such support in the community. Ayşe’s dedicated work, the unique support she offers to those living with HIV, and her inspiring approach should serve as an example for all healthcare professionals.

Ayşe Akaltun: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

I do not find it right to stigmatize people because of a virus, just as I do not find it right to stigmatize them based on their religion, language, race, sexual identity, economic status or social position.

Throughout my professional life, I have always thought about where I could be most useful. I did not want to become a healthcare worker who becomes desensitized to others' wounds, hardened by excessive workload, and fades away within the system. When the process of planning the opening of a voluntary counselling and testing centre began, I volunteered to work there because it was a field where I could be useful but one that many people avoided working in.

Over seven years, I have met with thousands of people. While I taught them many things, I also learnt a lot from them. The most important thing I learnt is that a counselling system that fits everyone is not possible, but that path can be found together with the client. I met people who couldn't talk about sexuality due to moral norms, who feared being ostracized because of their sexual identity, who blamed themselves due to sexual violence they had experienced, or sex workers who normalized sexual violence. And I learnt how very small things can change the situation. Sometimes a warm coffee, sometimes a smiling face, sometimes the right information given, and sometimes just being accessible can change everything. In a world where even healthcare professionals do not have sufficient and accurate information, moving together can change the lives of many people.

I work in the field of HIV because when we can explain to young people that talking about sexuality is not a taboo, when we can convey that sexual orientation does not make people good or bad, and when we can learn not to ostracize people because of a treatable infection, a butterfly will flap its wings, and a storm will emerge somewhere. This storm will ensure that everyone can access testing and treatment. I am one of those working to make that butterfly flap its wings.

* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Yıldıray nominated Cansu Ecem Kesgin for:

I am Yıldıray, and I have been living with HIV for about eight years. Three years ago, during the most challenging period of my life, when I felt helpless and exhausted, I met Ecem. Ecem was providing volunteer counselling at the Pozitif-iz Association. Due to the negative experiences I had previously with psychiatrists and psychologists because of my HIV status, I approached her with a lot of prejudice. But Ecem was different. She welcomed me without any prejudice, without stigmatizing or discriminating. In the first session, she kept asking questions, and I tried to brush them off by giving the shortest answers possible.

For her, this was more than just a profession. She was literally extracting words from my mouth with tweezers. She was determined to get to the root of my problems, not just the surface issues. For her, it wasn't just about HIV; it was about, "Who is Yıldıray and why is he struggling?" Yes, "Who was Yıldıray?" I didn't know either, and this was the real cause of my problems. In the fourth session, I decided to open up.

I started with my family and then talked about my friends, followed by my relationships and work life, explaining everything to Ecem in chronological order. In the weekly sessions that lasted for a year and later in intermittent sessions, I learnt to know and love myself through Ecem's questions and my own answers, and I made peace with my HIV status. Of course, the process was not easy. I can't even imagine how I would still be struggling with psychological issues if it weren't for Ecem. Even though three years have passed, we continue with intermittent sessions. I was a bird, and I didn't know how to fly; she taught me how to fly freely. At the end of each session, she would end it by saying, "You fly freely. Come to rest when you're tired. I'm here."

Yes, getting psychological support as someone living with HIV can initially seem very difficult and frightening. Maybe you have had negative experiences like I did, but if you have a psychologist like Ecem, everything can be easier. I am endlessly grateful to her for introducing me to myself.

Cansu Ecem Kesgin: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

I am a clinical psychologist. After graduating from high school, I completed my undergraduate education in the health field and then switched departments to pursue my dream profession. During my internship and experience in the hospital environment as a healthcare professional, I had the opportunity to observe patients and their relatives for a long time. I understand how detrimental the societal attitudes they face can be to their recovery process, in addition to the psychological issues they experience during these times. I am especially aware of the importance of psychological well-being when working with chronic illnesses.

About four years ago, I was introduced to the Pozitif-iz Association through the guidance of Dr Meral Akbıyık during my supervision process. I witnessed how the challenges people living with HIV face negatively impact their treatment processes. According to the definition by the World Health Organization, health is not just the absence of disease or infirmity, but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. I saw that misconceptions lead people to become disheartened and socially isolated and suffer numerous psychological issues, ultimately lowering their quality of life.

Three and a half years ago, I embarked on this journey asking myself what I could do, and I began supporting individuals living with HIV as a volunteer psychologist at the Pozitif-iz Association, which I now consider as my family. I focused on how we can strengthen individuals socially to cope with issues such as hopelessness, alienation, anxiety disorders, loss of belief in a just world, especially treatment refusal, and alcohol/substance use observed in individuals diagnosed with HIV, to ensure that their treatment processes are not negatively affected. I supported this process with psycho-education addressing the misconceptions and lack of information individuals had before their HIV diagnosis. By focusing on the positive aspects of the lives of individuals living with HIV and using positive outcomes and social support resources, I progressed towards personalized goals.

Based on a humanistic approach, accepting and supporting individuals living with HIV unconditionally, without judgement, is now a part of my existence. The main reason I work in this field is to contribute, even if just a little, to eliminating the alienating attitudes, misconceptions, stigmatizing actions and prejudices against individuals living with HIV and to help build an equal, fair and safe society.

* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Sevgi Yılmaz nominated Hüsnü Pullukçu for:

The reasons why I am nominating Prof Dr Hüsnü Pullukçu as a champion are countless, but I will try to explain.

Dr Hüsnü has extensive knowledge and years of experience in the fields of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology. Throughout his academic career, he has made significant contributions to the scientific world regarding HIV through numerous research studies and publications, and he continues to do so.

He interacts very closely with us and those living with HIV, addressing not only HIV-related issues, but also other concerns. When we face discrimination or rights abuse, he provides support. I have great confidence in his knowledge and expertise. I feel safe discussing my health with him, and he is particularly meticulous when referring to other specialties. As an expert, he always consults with other specialists in cases of rights abuse, ensuring lasting behavioural changes by the offending clinics and doctors.

Dr Hüsnü has transformed the clinic where we receive care. By integrating current and advanced medical knowledge and technologies into treatment, he provides the most effective and innovative treatment methods to those living with HIV. His meticulousness in care and personalized treatment approaches keep the satisfaction and trust of people living with HIV at the highest level. Additionally, through the training programmes and mentorship support he provides for young doctors and healthcare workers, he creates a continuous flow of knowledge and a professional development environment in his institution. Thanks to him, we receive more comprehensive and high-quality healthcare services.

Lastly, I would like to add that Dr Hüsnü is highly active not only in the academic and clinical fields, but also in public health. His efforts to raise health awareness and his informative activities reach large audiences.

The valuable contributions of Prof Dr Hüsnü Pullukçu to the healthcare sector, especially to those living with HIV, are the fundamental reasons for my nomination. His knowledge, experience and dedication set an example in the field of health and inspire future healthcare professionals. Therefore, I am nominating him with great pride and honour.

Hüsnü Pullukçu: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

Am I a doctor or an activist?

I support people living with HIV because I am both a doctor and an activist. My life initially started with the idea of how to obtain rights for the gay population. This stemmed from my own experience. When I began practicing medicine, I tried to support people in my situation as much as I could, but due to the naivety and fear of youth, I could only offer small help.

Then, I encountered HIV, which affects gay people, heterosexuals, women, men and all people living with their desired gender. Yes, everything was difficult at first. Even accessing healthcare was hard. During this period, both my doctor and activist sides began to work. Rights and freedoms were at rock bottom. With the introduction of effective antiretrovirals into our lives, things changed significantly. Especially after the acceptance of undetectable = untransmittable (U=U), a very different era began for me.

Again, my doctor side was working, dealing with the health problems and treatments of people living with HIV, but my activist side insisted that I needed to work more. I rolled up my sleeves and started sharing information and experiences in various clinics and social platforms. When I met NGO activists and we started doing things together, I became even more enthusiastic. I accept any invitation immediately: from my own university, other hospitals, other cities ... We need to tell everything, without fear, without giving up, with all its reality and simplicity. I am gay, and even if I do not live with HIV, it doesn't matter – I live with HIV, I am an activist, I am human. Every detail is the same for us; no one is different from anyone else; we are all one.

We need to tell everyone that HIV is not transmitted through daily activities from people living with HIV, that there is no transmission from an individual living with HIV who is U=U, and that there is no difference between individuals living with HIV and others in any respect. Love and tolerance will make the world beautiful and liveable.

* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.