Gail Johnson: Response to HIV treatment would make Nkosi Johnson proud

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Gail Johnson: Response to HIV treatment would make Nkosi Johnson proud

18 July 2016 2:35 PM

Nkosi Johnson's foster mother, Gail Johnson, sayd Nkosi Johnson's legacy continues to live on today through government's aggressive response towards ending HIV/Aids.

Gail adopted Nkosi, who was an orphan, and raised him until he was 12 years old before dying of Aids in 2001.

702's Azania Mosaka spoke to Gail Johnson about the legacy he has left and the work she is doing to further his work at Nkosi's Haven.

The young HIV/Aids activist captured many hearts in a speech he made at an HIV/Aids conference held in Durban, where he pleaded with government to do more to address the spread of the illness.

Listen to the conversation below:

President Mbeki walked out during his [Nkosi Johnson] speech. Now what is being done is mind-blowing.
— Gail Johnson, Nkosi Johnson's mother

A couple of days before his passing, he made the decision to stop taking anti-retroviral (ARV)treatment because f the side-effects.

His legacy is to stop denialism and stigma and acknowledge that people need support and that's all there is to it.
— Gail Johnson, Nkosi Johnson's mother

Written by: Omogolo Taunyane

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