Maria Papagiannidou in Έχει Γούστο, April 7 2009

National Greek TV channel NET program "Ehei Gousto" with Billio Tsoukala Today, April 7, World Health Day we would like to send a message of courage and hope for the ones who right now are suffering from some disease What is the biggest illness of our time? AIDS Who are the people who fought and were victorious The ones who faced the notorious AIDS virus A Greek lady, a colleague, because she is a journalist at the newspaper "To Vima" she has her own experience to testify and tell us how she managed not only to escape the captivity and exclusion related to that illness but also to rebuild her life to be now happy, married, and of course continues her journalistic profession Let us start from the beginning Mary Papagiannidou, a colleague journalist at the newspaper "To Vima". For how long? Twenty ***-positive how long? Twenty four that is I obtained a positive result in 1985 I continued my studies, graduated did post-graduate studies, was accepted at "To Vima" was put on the pay-roll very soon I was making excellent progress How you learnt it at first? It was the dawning of AIDS era when rumours said, in the summer of 1985 that the virus had reached Greece from Italy - It was then a big news for us with the disease of Billy Bo' (Greek fashion designer) He was the first celebrity who became ill and died Billy Bo was found positive later than me, in 1987 but he was immediately given medication Had I taken AZT at that time we wouldn't be talking now I was twenty years old, absolutely healthy I could not handle that information I did not feel sick, was not sick Let's go to the family and friends environment You start hiding and the drama starts OK to die soon, it may happen to people but being told: not to tell the others, that you will not get married, not have children, die soon what kind of short notice is that? I simply continued my life till I got very sick I was told that I had about ten years to live once the virus becomes active so I exhausted the 10 years I tested positive again I was then told that I had full AIDS, 10 days to live unless if I started medication For 10 years I took almost every drug on AIDS all of them toxic, all with horrid side-effects It is almost a miracle that I'm not dead How you won AIDS then? Let's send this message today, on the World Health Day about the plague of the century I started researching the AIDS issue on my own I stopped being affected by rumours, sayings, news on TV From what I understand reading your book you were greatly helped by your searching on Internet skills in order to do you own research It is also important to use the method of research you cross-examine the facts, check the source of information check the interests behind the information Why somebody says so? Is there conflict of interest? It's not extraordinary to do so All the more people, thousands all over the world learn through Internet that something goes wrong and start searching further Since Google became available its not impossible anymore to find answers provided you know what to ask - However there were people who died from the virus There are still plenty. It's not the virus, but the belief in it you are told that you will die, and you believe it's true The name AIDS itself is misleading that is: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome there're no proofs that a virus may cause acquired immune deficiency What was your conclusion? I was never infected by anything - Never infected by anything? Correct. Where is the virus? I've been asking the Ministry of Health 2 years now for the evidence that the virus, if any, causes AIDS I stopped the medication in 2007. While up to then I was dying 2 years now, I have no problems We receive messages saying congratulations to you others claim you say inaccuracies a lot of doctors call That is too vague What is inaccurate that I said? Where are the proofs why the Ministry does not present the proofs that the virus exists and is pathogenic Have those doctors seen the test what is written in the package insert they never show it to anyone I have got it with me You asked me not to bring it, shall I? - We didn't have the time to scan it It says "It is not intented to be used as a screening test for ***" The test is AIDS itself Without the test, there is no AIDS If you do not get tested, there is no new disease The views are split I get informed by our call centre Plenty of people say bravo and another plenty - almost devided are furious with you ask the discussion to end as it spreads inaccuracies and may jeopardize people's lives I have to tell you that I was prepared - Me also I knew it after reading some parts of your book things you say would cause reactions I'd like to say that today, tomorrow, and till the end of the week top scientists will be in Athens Andrew Maniotis, a cancer researcher at the University of Illinois, Chicago He teaches doctors at the biggest medical school of USA - There were doctors who encouraged you... - There are 2.500 of them - suggested you didn't suffer from the virus Also Dr. Juliane Sacher is here an AIDS doctor from Frankfurt who treats all the immunodeficiency diseases without any toxic drugs Also the British publisher of my book is with us in Athens and Thessaloniki Tomorrow at 7.30 p.m., we will have a book launch at the Olympic Museum of Thessaloniki an international panel - You may go, whoever is interested whoever has objections also If they disagree, why don't they come Today we were in Athens, we invited all doctors why don`t they come, but only complain? I also want to know, which is the inaccuracy I say? I am just transferring messages it is a live show I do not filter anything reactions or congratulations Mostly the medical community reacts