The Ministry of Health’s Department of HIV and AIDS Prevention Officer, Dominic Deng, has raised concerns over dependence on donors in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Speaking with Radio Tamazuj, Deng underscored the impact of donor dependency, insufficient resources, and systemic gaps on the country’s ability to address HIV effectively.
He explained that South Sudan heavily relies on donor funding, which only fills gaps but does not fully address the country’s needs.
“It should be the government putting the money and the donors filling the gap. But the challenge is that HIV interventions are largely donor-funded, leaving critical areas like data collection and reporting under-resourced,” he stated.
One major obstacle is the lack of comprehensive training and resources at the grassroots level.
“If the people generating the data are not trained or lack tools like tablets and internet bundles, we cannot have reliable data,” Deng said.
South Sudan’s Electronic District Health Information System (DHIS2) is meant to streamline data collection from health facilities. However, Deng noted that logistical challenges, such as poor internet connectivity and displacement caused by insecurity or flooding, often hinder data transmission.
“We have regions like Upper Nile where we cannot access data because of poor network coverage. In such cases, we must send teams to manually collect and upload data, which delays reporting,” he added.
Deng warned that incomplete or unreliable HIV data has significant consequences for both local and global efforts to combat the epidemic.
“Without accurate data, we cannot mobilize resources or develop evidence-based interventions,” he said.
For instance, gaps in data collection make it difficult to identify high-risk populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers. This has led to misconceptions about their existence in South Sudan, hampering targeted prevention efforts.
“Data from surveys like AIDS Indicator Surveys and house surveys are essential to complement program data. Without this, we cannot attract funding or provide adequate services,” Deng emphasized.
To achieve long-term improvements, Deng called for government investment in health systems.
“The government must allocate resources to pay salaries for data officers and ensure consistent training. We also need to integrate HIV data with other health services, such as malaria, TB, and nutrition, for more comprehensive reporting,” he said.
Rolling out DHIS2 to underserved areas, improving internet connectivity, and providing tools like tablets and network bundles were identified as critical steps.
“We must ensure all indicators are reported accurately and on time. Zero is a number; under-reporting or over-reporting affects programming,” Deng said.
He stressed that accurate, timely, and comprehensive HIV data was crucial for meeting global targets, such as ending Aids by 2030.
“Reliable data allows us to know who needs testing, treatment, and viral load suppression. Without it, we cannot track progress or secure funding,” he concluded.
He urged for the Ministry of Health to prioritize building capacity, integrating health systems, and ensuring all stakeholders collaborate to bridge the gaps in HIV prevention and treatment.