Vice-President and chair of the service cluster Hussein Abdelbagi Akol launched the HIV prevention frameworks, policy, strategies and guideline for 2025 – 2027 as South Sudan commemorated the World Aids Day on Tuesday in Juba.
The policy aims at ending HIV and Aids by 2030.
Speaking during the event, the deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Humanitarian Coordination, Anita Kiki, called for joint efforts towards addressing the stigma and harmful traditional practices related to HIV and Aids.
“To accelerate and sustain our progress in fighting HIV, we must confront the persistent stigma associated with HIV. People infected with HIV often face discrimination in accessing education and social services. They are also subjected to harmful traditional practices, laws, and policies that violate their rights and restrict access to essential HIV services,” she said.
She further called on the government to create a safe and enabling environment for the HIV response without any hindrance by adhering to the laws and policies of the Ministry of Health.
The Chairperson of the South Sudan HIV and Aids Commission, Esterina Novello, called for renewed political will towards overcoming inequalities and barriers hindering the fight against HIV and Aids.
Novello further said the latest statistics of the HIV epidemic 2023 had shown a decline in the prevalence of the virus disease among adults and an increase in the number of pregnant mothers living with HIV.
“Latest statistics of the epidemic 2023 have shown a decline in the prevalence of HIV among adult populations, estimated to be 1.6% and also some increase in the number of pregnant mothers living with HIV accessing antiretroviral treatment in comparison to 2023. However, pediatric HIV is appalling. The number of children with HIV, estimated to be 11,000 children. Out of that, only 28% are on life-saving treatment and there are still many people with limited knowledge of the facts about how to protect themselves and others fear of knowing their HIV status. Therefore, we cannot rest and we are still on a journey,” she said.
Akol commended the South Sudan Aids Commission, the Ministry of Health and the partners for their efforts towards ending HIV and Aids.
He further reassured of the government’s commitment towards ending HIV and Aids by 2030 as a public health threat in the country.
South Sudan commemorated the World Aids Day, under theme: “Take the Rights Path. Leave No one behind, remove social, legal and structural barriers related to accessing HIV services”. An estimated 160,000 people are living with HIV in South Sudan, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).