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07-12-2002, 09:28 AM
AIDS Comes to Sesame Street
AP
Muppets, Sesame Street characters
Friday, July 12, 2002
NEW YORK — The popular children's show Sesame Street will introduce an HIV-positive Muppet to the gang of colorful, googley-eyed characters.
The new Muppet will debut on the South African version of the show, Takalani Sesame, this fall.
HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in South Africa, where one in nine people are infected with the virus.
The new character is said to be a female, but her name, final color and form have yet to be determined, Reuters reported.
Joel Schneider, vice president and senior adviser to the Sesame Street Workshop, announced the new character at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain, this week.
"This character will be fully a part of the community," Schneider told Reuters. "She will have high self-esteem. Women are often stigmatized about HIV and we are providing a good role model as to how to deal with one's situation and how to interact with the community."
Schneider also told Reuters that talks are under way to introduce an HIV-positive character to U.S. viewers.
In and interview with Fox News, Kemit the frog said, "I haven’t met that character yet, but I think it’s a nice idea."
Calls to Sesame Workshop in New York were not immediately returned.
In February 2002, Sesame Workshop and Johns Hopkins University announced a joint initiative to "to help improve the health and lives of children and the families who care for them in the developing world." Part of the initiative includes, "reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, educating HIV/AIDS orphans, and fostering mutual respect and understanding."
A spokesperson for Johns Hopkins confirmed the initiative and the introduction of the new HIV-positive character on Sesame Street.
In 2000, about 40 percent of adult deaths in South Africa were attributed to AIDS, according to the U.S. State Department.
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AP
Muppets, Sesame Street characters
Friday, July 12, 2002
NEW YORK — The popular children's show Sesame Street will introduce an HIV-positive Muppet to the gang of colorful, googley-eyed characters.
The new Muppet will debut on the South African version of the show, Takalani Sesame, this fall.
HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in South Africa, where one in nine people are infected with the virus.
The new character is said to be a female, but her name, final color and form have yet to be determined, Reuters reported.
Joel Schneider, vice president and senior adviser to the Sesame Street Workshop, announced the new character at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain, this week.
"This character will be fully a part of the community," Schneider told Reuters. "She will have high self-esteem. Women are often stigmatized about HIV and we are providing a good role model as to how to deal with one's situation and how to interact with the community."
Schneider also told Reuters that talks are under way to introduce an HIV-positive character to U.S. viewers.
In and interview with Fox News, Kemit the frog said, "I haven’t met that character yet, but I think it’s a nice idea."
Calls to Sesame Workshop in New York were not immediately returned.
In February 2002, Sesame Workshop and Johns Hopkins University announced a joint initiative to "to help improve the health and lives of children and the families who care for them in the developing world." Part of the initiative includes, "reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, educating HIV/AIDS orphans, and fostering mutual respect and understanding."
A spokesperson for Johns Hopkins confirmed the initiative and the introduction of the new HIV-positive character on Sesame Street.
In 2000, about 40 percent of adult deaths in South Africa were attributed to AIDS, according to the U.S. State Department.
Jobs at Fox News Channel. Internships at Fox News Channel.
Terms of use. Privacy Statement. For FoxNews.com comments write to
foxnewsonline@foxnews.com; For Fox News Channel comments write to
comments@foxnews.com
For the latest in sports news, visit www.foxsports.com.
©Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 Standard & Poor's
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.