Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 21, 2007
Claire Keeton

The 36-year-old CEO of the Steve Biko Foundation is committed to furthering the development legacy of his father, who died in police custody in 1977.

"Our motto is promoting a culture where South Africans are the architects of change and define a new culture, politics and economics, and use their citizenship. HIV/Aids is one area where everyone at a personal level can take charge of their lives and their future," says Biko, who has joined the Each One Reach Five campaign to promote HIV testing.

Prominent GP Dr Leonard "Tiny" Mhinga took his blood at the Bryanston NHC Health Centre in Johannesburg.

Biko says: "It is a good campaign. HIV is even in the echelons of society where people should know better.

"The best intervention is education and that will help take the sting out of the negative stigma."

He says HIV/Aids should be seen in the broader context of healthcare and wellness. "HIV needs to be accepted as part and parcel of our lives like other illnesses in society. It needs to be treated like sugar diabetes or high blood pressure, and managed well. That is a big challenge - and discovering your status early on.

"I am here today doing a medical examination and looking into all sorts of possible problems around my health. One of the things that I will also naturally test is HIV so that I know my status. The biggest problem is not discovering you are HIV- positive. It is that you don't get to discover your status until you are at a stage of no return. I know people living with the virus, and I know people who have fallen victim to Aids and died as a result."

The Biko foundation is involved in HIV/Aids community work in the Eastern Cape.

Biko says: "We helped to create the HIV/Aids forum in Buffalo City and are working on a development strategy, and on how to get support from the Eastern Cape Department of Health for this."

The foundation has renovated the physical structure of the Zanempilo Community Health Centre, established by Biko's father and his comrades in the Zinyoka community outside King William's Town.

"The clinic is intended to operate as a hub of community healthcare work and we are elevating its programmes to their former glory," Biko says.

The clinic is operational and its role will expand beyond health to livelihood programmes, says Biko, who hopes this dream will be realised this year, the 30th anniversary of his father's death.

"In December we will be having benefit concerts bringing together artists around the world to pay tribute and it will be a celebration," says Biko.

He says: "The foundation is really about community development work."

The foundation has a network of about 73 community-based organisations permanently attached to it, about 31 of which are in the Eastern Cape. Its education programme works with 34 schools.

Biko's five nominees for the Each One Reach Five campaign are: Lucia Baepile; Ovenewa Yaa Amponsah; Lungi Malgas; Lindani Ntenteni and Ayanda Maphuma.

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How to join the Campaign:

Take an HIV test and get five other people to do the same. Make it clear that no one has to disclose their results.

Let us know why you decided to join the campaign and how you felt when you took the test. We welcome any stories about the experiences you have while participating in the campaign. Send your stories - with pictures if possible - to: reach5@sundaytimes.co.za

Send us your name and the names of your five nominees so that we can publish a list of South Africans who have taken part. Please note, we do not want to know the results of anyone's test.

You can get tested at your doctor or local clinic. For a list of clinics go to www.sundaytimes.co.za/vct

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