Script
First Part
Host:
Welcome friends to the radio show that will test your knowledge about a virus that is spreading quickly throughout the world. We have three guests with us today; Rodrigo from Mexico, Liu from China and Michael from South Africa. We are going to test their knowledge. They may ask several questions about the virus. We will offer clues along the way but the name of the virus will remain a mystery until the end of the session. At that time, we will ask each of them to guess the name of the virus. You at home can play along with our guests.
Host:
Rodrigo will ask the first question.
Rodrigo:
Where would we find you?
Virus:
You can find me anywhere in the world, from China to Mexico, from Russia to Argentina and all places in between.
Liu:
How do you get around?
Virus:
I travel in blood, semen and vaginal juices.
Michael:
Where do you live?
Virus:
I can only live inside your body – not in the air you breathe, the food you eat or in the water you drink. I’m not fussy about who I stay with. You can be young, old, rich or poor. You can be black, white, brown or yellow. It does not matter who you are or where you live.
Rodrigo:
How do we get you?
Virus:
There are only four main ways to catch me. You may get me if you have unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal). And sometimes you can get me through oral sex, though it is less risky. Or, you can get me if you receive blood that is infected with me through a transfusion. A mother infected with me can pass me on to her child before and during childbirth, or from breastfeeding. Finally, I can infect you in blood when you share needles and syringes. So, again, I can be passed through sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, shared needles and from mother to fetus. You get me because of what you do!
Michael:
What will happen to us if we catch you?
Virus:
You will become very weak and you will no longer be able to fight infection from other diseases. It can take up to ten years for me to make you weak. Once this happens, other diseases and germs find it easier to infect your body. You will become very sick and die.
Rodrigo:
How would we know when you are inside our bodies?
Virus:
You have to take a test. You cannot tell someone has caught me just by looking at them. The person can look and feel perfectly healthy.
Liu:
How can we stop you?
Virus:
You can stop me from spreading by using information and education to teach people about me, and by encouraging them to protect themselves. There is no cure. Once I’m inside I stay and you can infect others!
Host:
Panel, your time is up. You will have to guess. What is this virus? Michael first, Rodrigo second and Liu third.
Michael:
Are you hepatitis?
Virus:
Good guess but incorrect.
Rodrigo:
Are you syphilis?
Virus:
Wrong again.
Liu:
I think you are HIV.
Virus:
Absolutely correct!
Host:
Liu has the right answer. Our mystery virus is HIV which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. We’ll be right back to talk to our guests and the guest virus.
Second Part
Host:
Welcome back to “What am I!” Congratulations again to Liu who guessed our mystery virus to be HIV. Does anyone have any questions for HIV?
Michael:
If you are HIV then what is AIDS? Are you the same thing?
Virus:
After I’m inside you for a long time you may get AIDS. AIDS is a name for all the things that happen to you (illnesses and infections) after your body becomes weak from the HIV virus. I’m the HIV virus that causes the disease AIDS.
Rodrigo:
Can we get you from kissing?
Virus:
No! I think it’s time to stop these false rumours. You cannot catch me from kissing, hugging or a handshake. You cannot get me from living with or talking to someone who is infected with me.
Rodrigo:
Can we get you from a mosquito?
Virus:
You cannot get me from insect bites, toilet seats, or cooking utensils.
Michael:
Doesn’t HIV affect only homosexuals?
Virus:
No! I said it before. I can affect everyone – man, woman or child. In fact, scientists are saying that, today, I am being passed back and forth more between men and women who have sex than among homosexuals.
Rodrigo:
What can we do to protect ourselves from you while having sex?
Virus:
You can reduce your chances of catching me and other sexually transmitted diseases by using a latex condom while having sex. If you wear a condom I cannot travel from one person to another because the condom traps the male semen and protects the male from infected vaginal juices. The condom also protects the female from infected semen.
Liu:
What else can we do to protect ourselves?
Virus:
You have to change the way you have sex. Ninety per cent of new HIV infections are spread through sexual intercourse. So, if you’re going to have sex, use a condom. And remember, there are other ways to enjoy yourself and still be close to someone like hugging, kissing, body rubbing, massage and many more.
Rodrigo:
You said people might get HIV if they a receive blood transfusion or inject drugs.
Virus:
Yes. But these days, most countries around the world check the blood supply for HIV infection. You have little risk of being infected through blood transfusion. If you inject drugs, make sure you clean your needles and syringes with bleach before using them. There’s no trick to protecting yourselves from me. Just be aware of what I can do and use your common sense.
Host:
Our time is up. A reminder, be aware that HIV causes AIDS. Each of our guests will take this information and share it with people they know and love. We hope all our listeners are more aware of HIV and will act now to stop the spread of this virus. Goodnight! Stay healthy, stay safe!
Acknowledgements
This script was written by Isaac Rashid, a freelance writer in Hamilton, Canada. It was reviewed by John Russell, Communications Officer on the AIDS Committee of Toronto, Canada and by Iain McLellan, Communications Consultant, Montreal, Canada.
Information sources
“AIDS,” in Footsteps, No.6, March 1991. Tear Fund, 100 Church Road, Teddington TW118QE, U.K.
“TB and AIDS,” in Footsteps, No. 19 June 1994. Tear Fund, 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW118QE, U.K.
“Global Programme on AIDS, The HIV/AIDS pandemic: 1994 Overview,” pgs 1 15, WHO/GPA/TCO/SEF/94.4. World Health Organization, Distribution and Sales, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
“AIDS Parts 1 3” in Outreach, No. 52, 53, 54. The Teaching and Learning Centre, 200 East Building, 239 Greene Street, New York University, NY 10003, USA.
“AIDS and Development,” Panos Briefing, Nov. 1992, 24 pages. Panos Institute, 9 White Lion Street, London N1 9PD, U.K.
Status of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic as of January 1995, The Global AIDS Policy Coalition, Cambridge, MA. USA., 8 pages. Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard, Massachusetts.