Lisbon  – The Angolan historian, Américo Kwononoka, defended last Wednesday in Lisbon the divulgence of information about HIV/AIDS in various Angolan vernacular languages, so as to reduce the propagation of the disease, discrimination and stigma.

Speaking to ANGOP on the fringes of the theme “HIV/Aids infection, society and culture in the member states of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP)”, the historian said that all societies have traditions but they may comprise positive values and also some practices harmful to  health and human rights.

According to him, practices such as tattoos and body mutilation through cutting with un-sterilised knives, blades and needles are frequent in rural communities.

Therefore, the historian defended the creation of more information programmes and campaigns promoted by the government and non governmental organisations through radios, television, newspapers, hospitals, schools and churches, as well as the use of vernacular languages that will enable the chieftains to interact with the population.

According to him, the stigmatisation and rejection of HIV positive people is still high.