Well done Mr Splash!

Thank you Geoffrey Kapusa (Mr. Splash), renowned MBC-TV music presenter, for publicly disclosing your HIV status.

I was especially happy to read that six years since being tested and starting ARVs, you are living healthily and positively with HIV. Celebrities announcing their HIV status has been known to encourage people to get tested as well as promote non-discrimination against those living with HIV.

American basketball legend Earwin ‘Magic’ Johnson publicly disclosed his status in 1991. An analysis of attitudes before and after Magic Johnson revealed his status showed that there were significant increases among men on interest about Aids information, concern about Aids and talking with friends about Aids.

This suggests that celebrity disclosure provides opportunities for HIV prevention efforts which can reduce risky behaviour, encourage testing and information-seeking behaviour as well as decrease stigma and discrimination.

There are two parts to celebrity public disclosure of HIV status—the celebrity part and then the public disclosure part. 

Whether you disclose your status publicly or to close friends and family, there are many health benefits that accrue to individuals who disclose. It is widely accepted that holding back one’s feelings can lead to stress which negatively impacts physical health.

A study as far back as 1988 demonstrated improved immune system function in patients after they expressed long-held secrets. Initially, participants experienced negative feelings after disclosure, but these were far outweighed by both short and long-term health benefits.

Muula and Mfutso-Bengo of University of Malawi’s College of Medicine write in a 2005 paper that there are potential negative effects of publicly disclosing one’s status; rejection by family or community members or even violence—such as in the much-publicised case of a South African woman who was killed by her neighbours after she publicly disclosed her status. That happened in 1998 and I would like to think our attitudes towards HIV and Aids have improved considerably since then.

Celebrities can play a number of important functions in response to the epidemic. Some celebrities have become involved with Aids education like Whoopi Goldberg.

Celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor have helped raise money for research and treatment through the organisations they create or support and they elicit media attention. They can also help individuals identify with the epidemic.

There are pitfalls of using celebrities: not everyone may identify with them or some may assume that HIV is a result of their celebrity lifestyle not something acquired by the everyday man or that only celebrities can afford to live healthily with HIV.

We should use Mr. Splash’s disclosure as opportunity to encourage people to get tested and reduce discrimination.