Kaunda Takes HIV Test, Urges Zambians to Do Same
By Shapi Shacinda
Originally published by Reuters Health, March 26, 2002
LUSAKA — Former Zambian leader and revered African statesman Kenneth Kaunda took a public HIV test on Tuesday and challenged the country's top politicians to follow his example to help stem the spread of AIDS.
Kaunda, whose son Masuzgo died of AIDS in 1986, was tested for HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, at a voluntary counselling and testing centre in Lusaka.
Kaunda, 77, who ruled Zambia for 27 years until 1991, emerged from the centre to applause from several hundred supporters and AIDS activists to say the test had shown that he was HIV-negative.
"I thank God that I am HIV-negative," Kaunda said.
"I urge all Zambians without exception to take their tests because this is the only way that will help us to fight the disease," said Kaunda, adding that leading figures in public life would play an important role in fighting AIDS. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa challenged presidential candidates during last year's election campaign to take AIDS tests, saying Zambians needed a healthy head of state in office.
Analysts said on Tuesday Kaunda wanted Mwanawasa to follow up the challenge by taking an AIDS test to show that he was by example leading the campaign to halt its spread.
Kaunda's anti-AIDS campaigning has sharply increased awareness in this impoverished southern African country of 11 million people, where one in every five adults carries the virus or has AIDS.
His son's death left six young children in the former president's care. Kaunda has often said Masuzgo's fate and his grandchildren inspired him to take up the AIDS campaign.
AIDS has killed at least 650,000 Zambians since it was first recorded 18 years ago. It has also orphaned nearly 800,000 children, according to official figures.
Under his Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, Kaunda runs four schools for AIDS orphans and a clinic that provides treatment for poor Zambians infected with HIV.
Dorothy Chikwampu, a counsellor at the centre where Kaunda took his test, said the ex-ruler was an inspiration.
"He looked composed and showed a lot of knowledge about the disease. I took 20 minutes to counsel him. Laboratory tests took only 15 minutes and then we spent 15 minutes on post tests counselling," Chikwampu told Reuters.
