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.”
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