Documentary On People Living With HIV

Greetings, I'm Steven Doyle, a registered general nurse and a trained photographer based in Dublin. My nursing journey began with my education in Bucharest. Since 2003, I've been unwavering in my commitment to providing essential care to marginalised individuals, ensuring they receive the same medical attention.

In addition to my nursing career, I also take on the role of a Lecturer, imparting knowledge through national healthcare modules to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds with the skills needed to care for those in need.

Beyond my professional life, I take immense pride in fathering three children: two sons and a daughter.

In 2019, I embarked on a profound documentary project centred around the lives of individuals living with HIV. This journey is deeply rooted in my experiences dating back to 1992 when, as a 22-year-old volunteer, I found myself at a Romanian hospital caring for children whose parents had abandoned them upon learning of their HIV diagnosis. Initially, my commitment was for a mere three months, but the profound impact of those early days forever altered the trajectory of my life.

When my initial three-month stint concluded, I returned to Dublin, carrying the heartbreak of leaving those children behind. During my time with them, we tragically lost many to AIDS, a time when effective medications, now readily available, were absent in Romania.

After spending six weeks with my family in Dublin, I raised the necessary funds to return to Romania, extending my mission to include not only children with HIV but also those who were homeless and living in the sewer system.

A poignant moment occurred during my return to Romania when a child at the hospital approached me, wrapped his arms around my leg, and uttered the words, "Tu esti Tata meu," which translates to "You are my father." This child, named Nicu, had been abandoned by his family after contracting HIV through a childhood vaccination.

Over the years, the bond between Nicu and me grew incredibly strong. He would become distraught when I left him at the hospital after my shifts, often getting into mischief and crying after me. To provide a more balanced and nurturing environment for these children, who were confined to the hospital around the clock, I sought permission from the doctors to take some of them out, accompanied by two full-time staff members, for pizza and cinema outings.

Gradually, I assumed the role of a surrogate father for Nicu and took him to Ireland during the Christmas holidays. As he grew older and I returned home with my family, Nicu also came and stayed with us. He eventually returned to Bucharest.

In 2016, a heart-wrenching turn of events occurred when Nicu fell gravely ill. While I was in Ireland, Nicu called me, sharing the devastating news that he was paralysed and in the hospital. Without hesitation, I immediately acted, catching the first available flight to be by his side. Regrettably, we lost Nicu in January 2016.

Nicu's life, filled with love and courage despite the hardships, shed light on the stigma and challenges faced by people living with HIV. His experience, alongside countless others, inspired me to embark on a two-year photography course during the COVID-19 pandemic. In my class, we were tasked with creating individual documentaries, and I knew instantly that my project would revolve around HIV.

The core of my project is to meet people living with HIV, share their stories, and challenge and eliminate the stigma surrounding their lives. I aim to demonstrate that individuals, whether living with HIV or not, can thrive with this condition and lead healthy, productive lives. Educating the public about the vital message encapsulated in the slogan U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) is crucial.

I've interviewed many individuals with HIV; no two stories are identical. Some have endured stigmatisation, even within the healthcare system, which deeply shocked me, as I firmly believe in best practices in patient care and safety. One of my primary focuses is to educate other healthcare professionals and the public. HIV doesn't discriminate; it can affect anyone. Many have told me, "HIV is an old disease. It doesn't exist anymore." Additionally, I believe today's youth are not receiving adequate education about HIV transmission and prevention.

Thus far, I've harnessed my resources to journey through Ireland and several European nations, engaging with and capturing the inspiring stories of individuals. I want to emphasise that this endeavour is entirely non-profit. I aspire to advance this project and to do so, I am pursuing funding to transform these images into a captivating photographic exhibition and a compelling book.

Regardless of its scale, your support would be of immeasurable value in enabling me to share these stories with a broader audience while contributing to the vital cause of HIV awareness and reducing stigma. Witnessing this vision materialise would hold profound significance for me.