Gail Johnson
Names: Johnson, Gail
In summary: Gail Johnson is the foster mother of Nkosi Johnson, who died of AIDS in 2001 at the age of 12. Nkosi first came into the limelight
Gail Johnson is the foster mother of Nkosi Johnson, who died of AIDS in 2001 at the age of 12. Nkosi first came into the limelight in 1997 Gail Johnson, challenged a school in Melville, Johannesburg, for refusing to enrol him because of his HIV status. His courage as a HIV-positive youngster gave him the reputation as an “Aids icon” after he spoke out at several gatherings — including the United Nations conference on Aids — about his life and the government’s unwillingness to do something about the epidemic. Johnson established Nkosi’s Haven as a shelter for destitute people living with HIV and Aids in 1999. It currently houses 17 children — between three weeks and 18 years old — and 14 adults. Some of the children are HIV-positive; some are Aids orphans while others are healthy and live with their HIV-positive mothers.
