Daily Health News
Nigerian Linguists Adopt New Names For HIV, AIDs & Prostitutes In Hausa, Igbo & Yoruba
April 16, 2017 – Nigerian Linguists & Medical Experts Adopt New Names For HIV, AIDs & Prostitutes In Hausa, Igbo & Yoruba To Prevent Stigmatization
Nigerian linguists and medical experts have adopted new names for HIV, AIDS and prostitutes in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba as part of the strategy to reduce the scourge of stigmatisation.
Professor Herbert Igboanusi of the University of Ibadan said yesterday in a statement that the adoption was to eliminate stigmatisation of and discrimination against persons living with HIV and AIDS.
He said that the study adopted the following names as more appropriate for the HIV and AIDS.
HIV in Igbo is Ori Nchekwa meaning something that fights or weakens the body immunity while AIDS is Mminw, a condition that causes emaciation.
The Yorùbá term for HIV is Kòkòrò Apa Sójà Ara (KASA), meaning sickness that which kills the body immunity while AIDS is ààrùn ìsodole àjesára 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 one’s body has been chosen for AIDS.
Igboanusi said that the study was a two-year research titled “A metalanguage for HIV, AIDS and Ebola discourses in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba” sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
He asked 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.
“It is the researchers’ belief that behavioural change is only possible when the people are familiar with the appropriate terminology for HIV and AIDS in their own languages.”
Similarly, the experts adopted a new name for commercial sex workers in line with international practice.
“Since it is now more acceptable to refer to certain persons as “commercial sex workers” rather than “prostitutes”, we agreed on Ndi mkwaughari, which is people who hang around for them in Igbo.
Gbélé pawó, women who stay at home making money in Yoruba and Mata masu zaman kansu that is women who are living independently in Hausa.
[Leadership]
iron bar
April 16, 2017 at 2:14 AM
professors adopting a nick name for such dreaded disease or finding a cure.certain professor from the east dveloped a vaccine and am yet to see our fellow professors in the health sector to rally behind him.abalaka lai claims of his vaccine as well but didnt see the light of the day.oyibos has been digging to get the vaccines over the years with their collective support.naija arise oo
Mon
April 16, 2017 at 2:46 AM
It spells you people have started the separation of Nigeria from this nick names to sicknesses and trade, if not,why can’t you come up with one name for each as we have in “wazobia”.
So it’s better you say Biafra, Oduduwa and Arewa names respectively. And please we still need new names for KIDNAPPING,POLITICIANS,PASTORS as they are among those causing stigmatization in Nigeria.
Metu Nyetu
April 16, 2017 at 4:33 PM
MON YOU ARE too funny! As for the case of Igbo language, these professors do not know that they have even worsened the disease. Mminwu makes AIDS a very hopeless situation more than the English name.