WATCH: 16-year-old girl with HIV asks strangers to hug her. This is how they responded

UNICEF shared the video to create awareness about HIV among the people.

Image courtesy: Twitter (UNICEF)

New Delhi: In a unique attempt to spread awareness about HIV infection, a 16-year-old girl with HIV stood on the streets of Uzbekistan and asked people to hug her. UNICEF posted a video on Twitter showing how people reacted to the simple request of the young girl. The video is being shared widely on the internet. The girl stood with a placard that read “I am HIV positive.” You may feel a tug at your heart at the expression of the girl with every response she received. The video begins with the girl saying: “I have been living with HIV for 10 years now. All is fine, I am enjoying life. My purpose is to spread the message that people living with HIV are not a danger.” One by one, many people come up to her and hugged her. The video ends with a note : “There are only three main ways of contracting HIV - through blood, unprotected sex and from mother to child. HIV is not transmitted when you hug and kiss, say hello, shake hands, share lunch”. The girl says: "I didn't expect so much support. Each time someone hugged me, it felt like a family member. I imagined it was my mother, grandmother and my sister hugging me. Thank you everyone for the support.” Watch:

A 16-year-old girl living with HIV asked for a hug. This is how people responded.#AIDS2018 pic.twitter.com/V7RrABqTR7

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) July 23, 2018