Dr. Achol Ayom, the deputy head of South Sudan’s HIV/AIDS Commission, announced that over 10,000 people have died of AIDS-related illnesses from 2008 until this year.

Ayom told Radio Tamazuj that there are an estimated 193,000 HIV/AIDS patients in the country. She said people do not report to free HIV counseling and testing centres which leads to a high death toll.

Speaking Tuesday which was World AIDS Day, Ayom said the Equatoria region has a much higher HIV/AIDS infection rate because of its proximity to East African countries also impacted heavily by the disease.

She said her commission mourns the loss of South Sudanese citizens to the disease.

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have died.