BE NEGAPOSITIVE

The campaign to raise awareness around HIV testing in South Africa has received a boost from Soweto homeboy and new acting talent and musician Bongani Nkosi. The Brothers for Life campaign, which encourages South Africans to test for HIV and know their status, has launched the Negapositive campaign, with Nkosi taking the lead role as the character Mindlos.

KICK OFF:

Bongani, congratulations on this role. Tell us more about yourself ... I’m a passionate South African, who loves music and have recently joined an acting agency. I’m also very involved with game changers in my neighbourhood, helping families who are struggling with food, HIV issues and drug abuse. This ad merges

BONGANI NKOSI:

my love for show business with my commitment to change in my community and beyond.

What role does the character Mindlos play in this campaign?

Mindlos is a taxi driver, and he is real. I am certain that he will inspire men to test, and to commit to their own and their partners’ health. I am also working on some new music to spread the message and motivate people to test.

The campaign is centered around ‘Negapositive’. Can you elaborate?

Negapositive is a new word Brothers for Life are using to remind South Africans that we are all in this together. We must all know our status, take responsibility for our health, protect our partners, and treat each other with care and respect. Negapositive means if you are negative, make a commitment to stay that way: condomise, and stick to one partner. If you are positive, start treatment when the doctors advise you to and stay healthy. You are the same person either way. You can live your life. We want to end stigma, so the audience must decide for themselves if Mindlos is negative or positive. He is a happy, healthy guy because he knows his status and makes the right choices. His status is his own business. It does not define him.

There is research that suggests men in particular are afraid of being tested. What advice have you got to help them?

Understand what you are afraid of and face your fear. You have to know your status. Don’t wait. My own brother went for a while without getting tested; by the time he did get tested he was very sick. My family supported him and now he is strong, but we went through a tough time. Knowledge is power: the sooner you know, the sooner you can get the proper attention and medication. And remember: don’t let the fear of positive diagnoses stop you testing, because you may be surprised. Over 80 percent of South Africans are negative.

To find out more about the Negapositive campaign, visit brothersforlife.mobi

To find a testing clinic or support group near you, visit www. healthsites.org.za, dial *120* 662#, or call the National AIDS helpline 0800 012 322 (toll free)

If you have any questions about HIV, go to Brothers for Life on Facebook www.facebook.com/ BrothersforlifeSA or Twitter @ BrothersSA pages and ask Dr Sivu.