A team of Nigerian linguists and medical experts have adopted new names for HIV, AIDS and prostitutes in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba in order to reduce the scourge of stigmatisation.
A statement on Saturday by Prof. Herbert Igboanusi of the University of Ibadan, said the adoption was to eliminate stigmatisation and discrimination of persons living with HIV and AIDS.
He said that the study adopted the following names as more appropriate for the HIV/AIDS.
HIV in Igbo is Ori Nchekwa AhỄ meaning something that fights or weakens the body immunity while AIDS is Mmá»nwỄ, a condition that causes emaciation.
According to the statement the YorĂčbĂĄ, appropriate term for HIV is KĂČkĂČrĂČ Apa SĂłjĂ Ara (KASA) meaning sickness that which kills the body immunity while AIDS is Ă Ă rĂčn ĂŹsá»dá»Ìláșč Ă jáșčsĂĄra a sickness that completely weakens body immune system.
In Hausa, HIV is now Karya garkuwa meaning that which weakens the body immune system while Kanjamau a sickness capable of emaciating oneâs body has been chosen for AIDS.
Igboanusi said that the study was a two-year research titled âA metalanguage for HIV, AIDS and Ebola discourses in Hausa, Igbo and Yorubaâ sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
He called on speakers of the three languages to adhere to the use of these chosen terms in order to avoid confusing HIV with AIDS and consequently reduce their spread through behavioural change.
âIt is the researchersâ belief that behavioural change is only possible when the people are familiar with the appropriate terminology for HIV and AIDS in their own languages.â
Similarly, the experts also adopted a new name for commercial sex worker in line with international practice.
âSince it is now more acceptable to refer to certain persons as âcommercial sex workersâ rather than âprostitutesâ, we agreed that Ndá» mkwá»„ÌŁghará» people who hang around for them in Igbo.
âGbĂ©lĂ© pawĂł, women who stay at home making money in Yoruba and Mata masu zaman kansu that is women who are living independently in Hausa.
