Ukraine: You cannot get AIDS through friendship

by Arvydas Makselis 125 views

On May 19th Ani Lorak hosted the screening of the documentary film You Can't Get Aids Through Friendship which took place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Press Center. After the movie, one of the Serbian fans accredited at the contest stood up and joined Ani on the panel to share his story of finding out about his HIV-positive status.

The film, presented by the Ukrainian representative, highlights the problems of those people who live with AIDS. In the movie we can see two European citizens having AIDS in different countries. Both of them share experience how it feels living with the disease. Ani Lorak is featured as a journalist who tries to find out the life of HIV positive people.

A HIV positive fan said: "When I found out that I was HIV positive it didn‘t shock me because I knew that I had several unsafe relationships. The first thing I thought was what am I going to tell God when I die? A lot of people showed their support to me and only few turned away".

Ani was asked about how the epidemic can be stopped, she said: "Being here and discussing this problem is actually doing something. We have to understand that we can stop AIDS from spreading only by joining our efforts and fighting together. Education makes a big part of it".

Ani Lorak is a Goodwill Ambassadress of the non – profit organisation "Designers Against AIDS". As part of the joint project, Ani and a young Ukrainian designer designed a special T – shirt, which was given to the guests and journalists who attended the sceening. In 2004 – 2005 Ani Lorak was United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on HIV and AIDS In Ukraine.