HIV/AIDS prevalence was 2.6 percent in 2012, down from three percent two years earlier, according to data released by the health ministry.
The chair of the government’s HIV Commission, Esterina Novelo Nyilok, said that the reduction in infections is a great achievement for the young country, but more effort and funding are needed to significantly reduce the prevalence of the virus.
She called the "lack of funds to purchase drugs for infected people’’ the most significant challenge facing South Sudan, which she said aims to have zero HIV infection, zero discrimination and zero HIV-related deaths by 2017.
The data showing the drop in HIV infection are extrapolated from a survey conducted every 2 to 3 years by the health ministry to monitor the trend of HIV and syphilis infections in pregnant women at antenatal care facilities.
The 2012 rate of HIV infection is the lowest reported in South Sudan since the survey was first conducted in 2007.
The survey shows that where a person lives, their level of education and marital status are important risk factors for HIV infection.
Western Equatoria has the highest infection rate, at 6.8 percent, followed by Eastern Equatoria with 3.4 percent.
The lowest infection rates are in Northern Bahr el Ghazal with 0.3 percent and Warrap, Jonglei and Unity states, with 1.3 percent each.
An infection rate above one percent is considered a generalized epidemic.
Newer articles:
- South Sudan: Oil, the Environment and Border Conflicts - National Geographic - 22/03/2013 08:27
- IOM helps Ugandan children trafficked to South Sudan - Newstime Africa - 22/03/2013 07:10
- South Sudan Keen To Develop Ties With Cuba: President - Bernama - 22/03/2013 05:19
- Transition in South Sudan 'uneven,' UN envoy tells Security Council - UN News Centre - 21/03/2013 18:01
- South Sudan to Vaccinate Sick Cows from Darfur - Voice of America - 21/03/2013 15:52
Older news items
- South Sudan Youth Call for Help for Farmers - Voice of America - 21/03/2013 15:44
- Thousands of South Sudan Troops Leave Border: SPLA - Voice of America - 21/03/2013 15:32
- South Sudan presses ahead with alternative pipelines study - Yahoo! News (blog) - 21/03/2013 14:15
- 20 'killed' as South Sudan army pursues rebels - Africa Review - 21/03/2013 13:11
- South Sudanese President Willing to Develop Ties with Cuba - Prensa Latina - 21/03/2013 12:10
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- Reuters: South Sudan blames northern army for violence - 05/10/2009 16:28
- UN Volunteers fight against COVID-19 in South Sudan - 22/05/2020 20:53
- Sudan ex-rebels withdraw from northern areas - 11/01/2008 12:25
- Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces occupy school in South Kordofan - 12/07/2020 02:31
- Cleanness of Juba City is our Social responsibilities as South Sudanese - 15/06/2024 20:10
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61545 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22304 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21490 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19052 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18779 times