On World Aids Day, a new comic book to help children with HIV

Nov. 30, 2009 - PRLog -- As we mark World Aids Day, "What’s up with Matt? Medikidz explain HIV" is the latest comic book from Medikidz, the world’s first multimedia medical education publishing company for children.

In the book, the Medikidz Superheroes – Pump, Chi, Skinderella, Gastro, Axon and Abacus – explain HIV by taking Matt on a tour of Mediland, a planet shaped just like the human body. Along the way, Matt learns about how HIV occurs, how it can be treated and has some of common myths dispelled.

"What’s Up with Matt? Medikidz explain HIV" has been peer reviewed by Dr Vas Novelli, one of the leading clinicians in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

Founded by Dr Kim Chilman-Blair and Dr Kate Hersov – Medikidz aims to give young people access to child-friendly information about their illness, health and treatment. After working in paediatrics, both became frustrated that there was very little available to help educate young people about their conditions and medicines. Indeed, every year, some 350 million 5-15 year olds are diagnosed with a childhood illness in the top seven English speaking countries.

Designed to meet this challenge, Medikidz explains complex medical information in an entertaining, exciting and novel way to young people – and their parents – using the ‘Medikidz’, a gang of five larger-than-life superheroes, who feature in print in the comic books – currently covering 18 diseases including Asthma, Epiliespy, Leukaemia, Malaria and Swine Flu – and online at the Medikidz website www.medikidz.com

Medikidz is also big on social networking, allowing children with an illness to connect through its website with others to share their experiences and support each other. Teenagers can also subscribe through Twitter to regular health tips from the two doctors.

Dr Kate Hersov, Co-Founder of Medikidz says,
“With over 2 million children affected by HIV, it’s surprising how little attention is given to ensuring that they and their friends have the right material to understand what is going on. Our novel approach of explaining this condition to children in their own language, will not only help them to understand the real facts, but will also arm them with the skills to cope with the management of their condition.”

For more information about Medikidz, visit www.medikidz.com

To arrange an interview with the Medikidz doctors, please contact Annie Owen on 44 (0)20 7420 5875 or email annie@hype.co.uk