"We are human beings"
That boy at the beginning of the video was a symbol of hope in a nation suffering from AIDS. On June 1, 2001, Nkosi Johnson died from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). At the time, he was the longest living South African child born with HIV. In February, he celebrated his 12th birthday—but weighed just 27 pounds.
 He frankly discussed the problems of the disease and received cheers at the 13th International AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa, in July 2000. His plight was typical of many on the continent, as African nations struggle to deal with this and other diseases.

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