From: medawar@prism.poly.edu (Bassem Medawar)
Subject: AIDS in Lebanon
Organization: Polytechnic University, New York
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 18:31:44 GMT


The following report by LBC appeared on CNN world report Sunday, Dec 12, 1992.
 
[Scene of an empty TV studio.  Female voice narrating whole report except
when noted otherwise.]
Fighting the aids virus in Lebanon appears to be yet another mine field.
 
[Woman, well dressed, walking alone in what appears to be a deserted street.]
Prevention campaigns were launched all over the territories in an attempt to
stop the proliferation of the virus.
 
[Cartoon scenes of male/female nude midsection, facing each other, male
behind female, and male behind male.]
Audio/video media have used all their resources to bring the message to the
public.
 
[Studio scene again, a panel of experts in front of cameras.]
During a special debate on LBC, Doctors and health officials explained
the different ways of prevention and the difficulties they faced in treating
a patient in Lebanon.
 
[Different scenes inside a medical lab with test tubes and equipment and the
arm of a woman from whom blood is being taken.]
Treatment are very expensive and there are no social security or governmental
subsidies to cover their cost.
 
[Back to the studio panel scene.]
Besides, there is a strong resistance from religious communities to use
the condom for example.
 
[Well suited man speaking, unidentified, LBC reporter continues to speak.]
Governmental campaigns are focusing more on sexual abstention or marital
fidelity as means of prevention.
 
[@aashoora procession scene, close up of men, some with bloodied
bands around their heads.]
But they are regardless of some religious traditions and demonstrations
that can contribute in spreading contaminated blood like the Shi@at
commemoration of @aashoora.
 
[Scene of "Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah", subtitle "Shiite leader",
being interviewed by a male reporter.  His barely audible voice is
overshadowed by the voice of the translator.]
Sheikh Fadlallah: NaHnoo 'a@lannaa ra'ina.. [rest inaudible]
Male translator: We should ...[inaudible word].. these customs and these
traditions by principle.  These traditions do not express clearly a certain
idea or belief.
 
[Back to @aashoora procession scene, a woman holding the hand of a kid with
"Shahiid Karbala'" written on his head band followed by a scene of a man's
head being partially shaved.]
Translator: These expressions were accepted during a certain period but today
they are not accepted at all.
 
[Street scene with a man and a woman holding hands while walking among other
people.]
According to WHO, 130 [???] people are suffering from the aids virus in Lebanon.
 
[Drawing of a family holding hands scene.]
More than 1000 people are known to be HIV positive but some doctors are sure
that these numbers are far from being realistic.
 
[Close up scene of a little girl's face, hand holding cheek, with tears coming
out of one eye.  She lifts another hand and wipes the tears.]
Society tends to isolate completely the aids patients.
 
[Scene of a man, no lighting on face.]
.. and they prefer to hide their identity so that they can live in peace.
 
[Scene of a man, with his right leg missing, using crotches.  He walks
towards the camera.]
Robert Hakim is dying from aids.  The Franciscan nuns were the only ones who
helped him..
 
[Scene of Robert Hakim lying on bed.]
...[inaudible].. to treat him and gave him a shelter.
 
[Close up of Robert Hakim.]
He had the courage to talk.
 
[Scene of a hand drawing an icon.]
Today he is painting religious icons and he is selling them.  He said
that his faith in God helped him accept his illness and ...
 
[Scene of an array of icon drawings.]
... face a much conservative and severe society.
 
[Scene of LBC reporter Tania Mehanna directly talking into the camera on
a busy street.]
All the people suffering from aids are still afraid to speak openly in Lebanon.
They hope that the widespread campaign will make the society more understanding,
less banning and helpful in bearing the pains.  For the CNN world report, this
is Tania Mehanna, LBC.
 
---------------------

If there is interest, I can make the audio of the above report available for 
anon-ftp.

bassem


Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon