August, 08, 2019 (WAU) – Infection rates of HIV/Aids in South Sudan now stands at 2.9% compared to last year’s 2.7%, a senior official from South Sudan HIV/Aids Commission disclosed on Thursday.
- South Sudanese take part in an anti-Aids march in Juba on 1 December 2011 sponsored by the UNMISS
The deputy director for the HIV/Aids body, Dr. Achol Ayom attributed upsurge in infection rates to the years of conflict, which forced people into protection of civilian camps in parts of the country.
She said some young men also become victims of the deadly disease due to their involvement in commercial sex with sex workers.
“All over South Sudan, the percentage is 2.9 %. The number has increased and the reason is because of the conflict,” said Achol.
The official said trauma among people living in camps without loved ones had made people adopt partners minus knowing their statuses.
She said the challenging economic situation in the country has lured some of the young girls into prostitution for survival purposes.
According to the national director for HIV/Aids in the South Sudanese army (SSPDF), Yohana Mabor Deng, 12,500 out of the 250,000 uniformed soldiers are living with HIV/Aids across the country.
He attributed the rise in infection rates of HIV/Aids to ignorance among the force about the dangers of the deadly viral disease.
Meanwhile, the country director for the United Nations agency in charge of fighting HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Sofia Mukasa said the organization is working closely with the ministries of health, defense and HIV/Aids Commission to conduct voluntary testing and counseling services as part of efforts to control spread of the disease.
She said UN-AIDS has adopted circumcision as other alternative measure to prevent transmission of HIV from one person to another.
Mukasa said stigma is still a major challenge among HIV/Aids victims.
Last year, UNAIDS and South Sudan officially launched a five-year strategic plan to halt new infections and deaths linked to the disease.
South Sudan’s AIDS Commission says of 2.9% infected with the disease, only about 25,000 people in the country are currently on treatment.
(ST)
Newer articles:
- South Sudan’s Kiir meets investors from Canada, US - 12/08/2019 00:15
- South Sudan: Renk Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment Brief - Renk County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, June 2019 - 10/08/2019 15:59
- South Sudan detains newspaper editor for over three weeks - CPJ - 10/08/2019 00:56
- New South Sudan Strategy Maps Way Forward for Communities Returning Home After Displacement - 09/08/2019 08:02
- SA donates over R100 million to South Sudan - 09/08/2019 06:30
Older news items
- Kenya envoy in South Sudan to push for peace implementation - 09/08/2019 02:32
- KCB to Step Up Investment in South Sudan as Nation Bounces Back - 08/08/2019 08:59
- Civil war in South Sudan does not prevent celebration of new bishop in Malakal - 08/08/2019 08:37
- IOM South Sudan Protection and Gender-Based Violence 2019 | Quarter 2 Report - 08/08/2019 07:14
- Membership of the South Sudan Education Cluster - 07/08/2019 10:54
Latest news items (all categories):
- The Collo Kingdom Remains Underdeveloped: Five Hundred Years Later! - 03/02/2025 12:57
- Attack on South Sudan cattle camps kills 35 - 03/02/2025 12:46
- في صفقة مثيرة.. الإمارات تشتري نفط الجنوب في باطن الأرض لمدة 20 عامًا - 03/02/2025 12:42
- South Sudan: Can oil production save the economy? - 30/01/2025 19:27
- 20 oil workers and crew die in South Sudan plane crash - 30/01/2025 19:20
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudanese immigrants strive to rebuild trust amid ethnic violence back home - 20/11/2014 22:45
- S. Sudan 'man-made' famine could be catastrophic, charity warns - 05/05/2017 07:44
- Immature politics has poisoned our generation - 26/03/2020 23:26
- الاجهزة الامنية في ملكال تعتقلنا نهار العيد الاول للاستقلال المجيد - 25/07/2012 21:16
- US to South Sudan: Sign peace deal or face UN sanctions - 19/08/2015 06:26
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 68981 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22366 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21568 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19269 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19214 times