International Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) is to produce programmes in the African country of Angola, educating the Ovimbundu people about the spread of the HIV virus and to create a forum for discussion among listeners.  The Ovimbundu people number about 4 million, almost 40% of Angola’s total population.

Angola currently faces alarming HIV/AIDS statistics.  6% of the population are infected and 30 out of 100 people test positive each day.  By 2010, there will be an estimated 331,000 AIDS orphans.

More than 90% of Angolans live below the poverty line.  Many live in remote areas as a result of the civil war and the threat from remaining landmines, making it difficult for government authorities and health ministries to reach all the villages to inform people about HIV/AIDS.  It is also hard for pastors and missionaries to reach them with the gospel.

Thanks to radio which crosses all barriers, TWR can reach these people with educational and evangelical messages.  The programmes will address issues related to HIV/AIDS while at the same time teaching the community and its leaders in methods of prevention.  This will contribute to the UN’s sixth Millennium Development Goal: to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and specifically to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

The programme, to be produced in the Umbundu language, aims to overcome stigma of the disease and change the way that HIV positive people are viewed.  Listeners will be given information that counters misconceptions and wrong beliefs that result in the spread of the disease and will be encouraged not only to get tested for the virus, but most importantly, change their sexual behaviour.

The magazine format of the programme will include music, testimonies from the community, discussion with health professionals and an opportunity to answer listener’s questions.