Xolani Nkosi Johnson, was born with HIV on on February 4, 1989, in South Africa, he was passed on the virus from his mother Nonthlanthla Daphne Nkosi. Many never gave Nkosi a chance to live, but this little boy was not just born with HIV, was born with a fighting spirit that few of us ever have. When the world was turned against him, he found a way to show the world that life is valuable, and no matter how short it is, we have much to give and learn.
In 1991, when Nkosi was only 2 he was placed in an overcrowded AIDS care center, after his mother was too sick to care for him. It was there that Gail Johnson, met Nkosi and his mother. The center where Nkosi was, was soon forced to close due to a lack of funding. Nkosi's mother was by this time very sick, but also lived in fear of the stigma the virus would bring to her son, and the out lash that would come from her village, so she placed Nkosi in the loving care of Gail Johnson. It was with Gail Johnson that Nkosi found a second chance, and a second mom.
With the support and encouragement from “Mommy Gail”, Nkosi used his voice to tell the world about HIV/AIDS. Gail and Nkosi fought to have Nkosi in school, a battle that they not only won, but where also successful in bringing national attention the educational rights of children with HIV/AIDS. The case of Nkosi forced the Educational Department to establish a policy on the issue, and helped in the destigmatization of HIV/AIDS.
Nkosi continued to see his mother, and family, while with his foster mother, who fought tirelessly for all victims of HIV/AIDS. Nkosi's mother died of AIDS on April , 1997 when he was 8, she spent the remainder of her life fighting for live and the strength of her son, who doctors told her would not live to be a year old.
In 1999 Gail and Nkosi Johnson founded Nkosi's Haven's, to help other mothers and children with HIV/AIDS live their lives in peace, without fear, so they would not have to suffer needlessly for societies ignorance and face the stigmas that Nkosi and his mother Daphne had to face.
"Our dream is to establish care centres for HIV/AIDS mothers and their children (infected or not) to ensure that they are able to live in an environment of acceptance and understanding. Here they will learn to care for themselves and their children and cope effectively with the new challenges that HIV/AIDS will present to them."
Nkosi Johnson spoke at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, on January 9, 2001, his words moved and inspired the world:
“I want people to understand about Aids – to be careful and respect Aids – you can't get Aids if you touch, hug, kiss, hold hands with someone who is infected. Care for us and accept us – we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else – don't be afraid of us – we are all the same!”
Nkosi lost his fight with AIDS on June 1, 2001 at the age of 13, he was the longest surviving child born with AIDS in South Africa, and in his short life he lived and loved, not like a child who was dying, but like he was living for all of us. Through the millions of lives he touched, he will continue to live on and touch millions more.
Let Nkosi be if anything for you, a reminder of the power and voice a child has.
