Film personalities get anti-AIDS lessons from US Soap in Kolkata

[Guest guest]

What happens when a doctor serving in an emergency room(ER) contracts HIV? Can

she treat a child with an ear ailment ? What if a patient is lacerating? And

does she inform the patients that she is HIV+?

" These dilemmas were the core of an episode of ER " - informed Joe Sachs, an MD

turned writer-producer with the Hollywood serial that's being aired for 11

years. " And it has gone a long way in wearing down the stigma of AIDS " explained

Sach to some of the actors & personnels from Health sector in Kolkata in a video

conference organised by the American Centre in last week.

The most successful in incorporating AIDS awareness is " The Bold & the

Beautiful " It proved a strong platform in fighting AIDS stigma when a much

admired character-a Latino man-finds out he's HIV positive. His first reaction

is to move away from the women he's in a relationship with. But over 4 months of

telecasting -she pursues him, they come together, marry and adopt child

orphaned by AIDS said Popp, a producer & Director of the serial aired in

over 100 countries. So one can educate even as one entertains urged Vicky Beck,

Director of Hollywood, Health and Society set up specifically to incorporate

health issues in their storyline.

If these issues come up and gets a regular & proper place in our films and TV

channenls, we can also hope to fight a long drawn battle against stigma &

discrimination.

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Source: Times News network

Manidipa Ghosh

FXB West Bengal

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Kolkata-700017

Telephone : 033-281-7813

Telefax : 033-281-7604

Email : fxbwestbengal@...