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Global Dialogues
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I know that he slept with other women before me.
I love him very much, but I'm scared.
I wonder all the time if he's infected.
And me as well.
You know, every day I do try to bring up the subject of AIDS with him.
It's a matter of his health and mine.
But I never seem to be able to find the courage.
How does one begin such a discussion?
But, he's your husband. You MUST speak to him.
What? The AIDS test?! Are you mad?
I would never, ever do it! Never!
What's the point, eh? It's stupid.
No, it's not stupid. Let me tell you something.
My fiancée and me,
we've decided that it's time
to take the *** test before we get married.
I believe it's good to know where you stand, don't you?
To know you're going to die tomorrow? No thanks.
An ***-positive test doesn't mean you've got AIDS,
nor that you're going to die next week.
My older brother is ***-positive.
He's known that for a few years, and he's doing well.
Oh sure.
So give me two, three good reasons to take the test. Go ahead, go!
OK.
Number one: If somebody is ***-positive, they can see to it that they don't infect anybody else.
If you ever find the woman of your dreams, you want to infect her?
My dream woman? In the singular? I prefer a round dozen.
Nothing else?
Not for nothing I'm known as Don Juan.
Yeah, whatever.
Reason number two:
A person who's ***-positive can live for years, if they take care of themselves.
That is to say, eat well, get enough rest, exercise, avoid alcohol and cigarettes,
seek medical treatment for any illnesses that might arise,
and above all find good sources of support.
Alex, it's no good!
"Enough rest" does not exactly fit in with a swinging lifestyle.
And as for giving up alcohol...
Hey, there are also modern medicines
that help a person who's ***-positive to live much longer.
More and more Africans have access to them.
Thirdly, Bouba: children.
What?
I said children, babies. An ***-positive mother can give the virus to her child.
It's really important before having children to take the test.
But, if she's pregnant already? Then, what is the point?
So, it's crazy for her to get tested, am I right?
That's not true, because in most cases
when an ***-positive mother gives birth to an infected child,
it's during the birth itself that the infection takes place, not before.
It's more and more common nowadays that our health workers can give inexpensive medicines
which dramatically diminish the possibility of infection for the baby.
First they must know if the mother is ***-positive or not.
You have to take the test.
So, an ***-positive woman does not always pass the virus to her baby?
Oh, no! As I was saying, if the medical staff know she's positive,
they're able to give her these modern medicines to reduce the risk of infection for the baby.
And they can also give her advice on breast-feeding to give the child an even better chance of staying healthy.
Our kids. ... That's serious.
How're you feeling?
But, he's your husband. You MUST speak to him.
Don't be afraid. You two have made a very good decision.
It's always wise to take the test.
Global Dialogues
www.globaldialogues.org