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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With AIDS Patient, Robin Adams

Aired November 30, 2003 - 18:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: On the eve of World AIDS Day, Pope John Paul II offered prayers to those suffering from the disease. The pontiff also encouraged AIDS caregivers to continue their work. He said that AIDS was spreading throughout the world, particularly in poor countries.
The comments come amid renewed criticism of the Vatican's opposition to using condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV.

And in the U.S., government statistics show an increasing number of HIV infections. More than half of all the new infections are in the African-American community.

Christie Feig introduces us to one African-American woman living with HIV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN ADAMS, HIV DIAGNOSED: D'Andre (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said that.

CHRISTIE FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: When Robin Adams was diagnosed with HIV five years ago, she couldn't believe it.

ADAMS: The biggest scare is, oh, well, God. I've got HIV AIDS. Now what? What? You live. You learn how to live over again.

FEIG: Adams is not alone. African-Americans make up more than half of all new HIV infections, more than any other group in the U.S. Black women in particular are at risk.

JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION: We are very concerned about HIV infection among African- American women. In some studies, up to 75 percent of the new infections are occurring in these populations.

FEIG: Valencia Dillon-Donaldson sees the problem first-hand. She runs a program for African-American women with HIV.

VALENCIA DILLON-DONALDSON, WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC, WASHINGTON: I am watching the virus do a rampant deterioration in black women. I don't see nobody jumping up. I see no one screaming. I see no one acting up about how what is happening in my community.

We're in trouble. We're in real trouble.

FEIG: She says many of the factors causing these numbers to rise could be countered if women would insist their partners use a condom.

The CDC believes testing for HIV would reduce some of the new infections. They estimate 200,000 Americans are infected with the virus and don't know it. And studies show, once people do know they're infected, they take steps to protect their partners.

In Washington, I'm Christie Feig.

(END VIDEO) SAVIDGE: On the eve of World AIDS Day, Pope John Paul II offered prayers to those suffering from the disease. The pontiff also encouraged AIDS caregivers to continue their work. He said that AIDS was spreading throughout the world, particularly in poor countries.

The comments come amid renewed criticism of the Vatican's opposition to using condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV.

And in the U.S., government statistics show an increasing number of HIV infections. More than half of all the new infections are in the African-American community.

Christie Feig introduces us to one African-American woman living with HIV.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

ROBIN ADAMS, HIV DIAGNOSED: D'Andre (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said that.

CHRISTIE FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: When Robin Adams was diagnosed with HIV five years ago, she couldn't believe it.

ADAMS: The biggest scare is, oh, well, God. I've got HIV AIDS. Now what? What? You live. You learn how to live over again.

FEIG: Adams is not alone. African-Americans make up more than half of all new HIV infections, more than any other group in the U.S. Black women in particular are at risk.

JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION: We are very concerned about HIV infection among African- American women. In some studies, up to 75 percent of the new infections are occurring in these populations.

FEIG: Valencia Dillon-Donaldson sees the problem first-hand. She runs a program for African-American women with HIV.

VALENCIA DILLON-DONALDSON, WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC, WASHINGTON: I am watching the virus do a rampant deterioration in black women. I don't see nobody jumping up. I see no one screaming. I see no one acting up about how what is happening in my community.

We're in trouble. We're in real trouble.

FEIG: She says many of the factors causing these numbers to rise could be countered if women would insist their partners use a condom.

The CDC believes testing for HIV would reduce some of the new infections. They estimate 200,000 Americans are infected with the virus and don't know it. And studies show, once people do know they're infected, they take steps to protect their partners.

In Washington, I'm Christie Feig.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 30, 2003 - 18:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: On the eve of World AIDS Day, Pope John Paul II offered prayers to those suffering from the disease. The pontiff also encouraged AIDS caregivers to continue their work. He said that AIDS was spreading throughout the world, particularly in poor countries.
The comments come amid renewed criticism of the Vatican's opposition to using condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV.

And in the U.S., government statistics show an increasing number of HIV infections. More than half of all the new infections are in the African-American community.

Christie Feig introduces us to one African-American woman living with HIV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN ADAMS, HIV DIAGNOSED: D'Andre (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said that.

CHRISTIE FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: When Robin Adams was diagnosed with HIV five years ago, she couldn't believe it.

ADAMS: The biggest scare is, oh, well, God. I've got HIV AIDS. Now what? What? You live. You learn how to live over again.

FEIG: Adams is not alone. African-Americans make up more than half of all new HIV infections, more than any other group in the U.S. Black women in particular are at risk.

JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION: We are very concerned about HIV infection among African- American women. In some studies, up to 75 percent of the new infections are occurring in these populations.

FEIG: Valencia Dillon-Donaldson sees the problem first-hand. She runs a program for African-American women with HIV.

VALENCIA DILLON-DONALDSON, WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC, WASHINGTON: I am watching the virus do a rampant deterioration in black women. I don't see nobody jumping up. I see no one screaming. I see no one acting up about how what is happening in my community.

We're in trouble. We're in real trouble.

FEIG: She says many of the factors causing these numbers to rise could be countered if women would insist their partners use a condom.

The CDC believes testing for HIV would reduce some of the new infections. They estimate 200,000 Americans are infected with the virus and don't know it. And studies show, once people do know they're infected, they take steps to protect their partners.

In Washington, I'm Christie Feig.

(END VIDEO) SAVIDGE: On the eve of World AIDS Day, Pope John Paul II offered prayers to those suffering from the disease. The pontiff also encouraged AIDS caregivers to continue their work. He said that AIDS was spreading throughout the world, particularly in poor countries.

The comments come amid renewed criticism of the Vatican's opposition to using condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV.

And in the U.S., government statistics show an increasing number of HIV infections. More than half of all the new infections are in the African-American community.

Christie Feig introduces us to one African-American woman living with HIV.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

ROBIN ADAMS, HIV DIAGNOSED: D'Andre (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said that.

CHRISTIE FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: When Robin Adams was diagnosed with HIV five years ago, she couldn't believe it.

ADAMS: The biggest scare is, oh, well, God. I've got HIV AIDS. Now what? What? You live. You learn how to live over again.

FEIG: Adams is not alone. African-Americans make up more than half of all new HIV infections, more than any other group in the U.S. Black women in particular are at risk.

JULIE GERBERDING, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION: We are very concerned about HIV infection among African- American women. In some studies, up to 75 percent of the new infections are occurring in these populations.

FEIG: Valencia Dillon-Donaldson sees the problem first-hand. She runs a program for African-American women with HIV.

VALENCIA DILLON-DONALDSON, WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC, WASHINGTON: I am watching the virus do a rampant deterioration in black women. I don't see nobody jumping up. I see no one screaming. I see no one acting up about how what is happening in my community.

We're in trouble. We're in real trouble.

FEIG: She says many of the factors causing these numbers to rise could be countered if women would insist their partners use a condom.

The CDC believes testing for HIV would reduce some of the new infections. They estimate 200,000 Americans are infected with the virus and don't know it. And studies show, once people do know they're infected, they take steps to protect their partners.

In Washington, I'm Christie Feig.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com