AIDS through Punch and Judy-style humour.

It will form a key plank in health education for the Island's primary schoolchildren.

One of its main objects is to encourage an upbeat approach to the killer disease.

And it is also designed to dispel myths with the theme of: "The more you learn the less scared you are.'' Six of the videos, along with 35 complementary work books, are now available to schoolteachers.

They can be obtained from the resources centre at the Ministry of Education.

Yesterday the videos and books were handed over to Dr. John Cann, chief medical officer and chairman of the AIDS task force.

Making the presentation at the Victoria Street Health Centre was Mr. Frank Gamble, local Red Cross director.

Also there were Mrs. Barbara Cooper, chairman of the Red Cross blood bank at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, and Mr. Ray Latter, senior education officer and chairman of the education committee of the AIDS task force.

Mr. Gamble said the local Red Cross had paid $500 for the videos and books.

"We feel they provide an extremely important part of health education for schools.'' The programme was presented by the Bermuda Red Cross through its pairing partnership with the Salt Lake City (Utah) chapter of the American Red Cross, under an international development project funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Before being accepted for the Island the video, produced by the Hasty Pudding Puppet Group, was previewed by Dr. Cann.

Said Dr. Cann: "It is one of many measures which will be used in trying to foster positive attitudes to AIDS, and to ensure students know how to deal with a person HIV infected.

"It does not do so through over-information. It really is part of a long-term health education programme.'' He added: "The video tries to dispel all the myths. It does not preach. It does not dictate. It introduces subtle messages.'' Mrs. Cooper strongly welcomed the video package, saying it was crucial to educate people about AIDS.

"I would like to inform our donor public that it is impossible to be infected by HIV virus when giving blood.'' Mr. Latter also applauded the idea of beginning AIDS education at an early age.

The stars in the video, Camp Itsamongus, are two child puppets, who attend a summer camp "Itsamongus.'' One of them is full of common myths about AIDS, which are knocked down by his friend who, it finally transpires, is HIV infected.

Among the messages conveyed are that AIDS cannot be caught through touching; sneezing and coughing; eating; and mosquito bites.

The work book also contains advice, applicable to both teachers and parents.

This includes: answer questions when asked by children: keep information simple; listen to questions carefully; only give information appropriate to the child's age and emotional and intellectual development; and talk about it several times.