Southern Sudan celebrates AIDS day amid increase in infections

High levels of superstition, stigma, complacency, ignorance and indifference are enhancing South Sudan’s chances of becoming victim to the spread of the AIDS epidemic, a senior government official warned Wednesday, on 1st December 2009, during the official celebration of world AIDS Day that took place in Juba, South Sudan.

Manasse Lomore, deputy governor of Central Equatoria State said: “Despite the reduction of new cases of HIV worldwide according to International Health reports, the number of new HIV infections in Southern Sudan is unacceptably high and rising.” The official blamed the increasing number of people living with the virus on the high level of superstition and stigma about the disease. He explained that many southerners still don’t believe in the actual existence of AIDS. He noted that many turn to herbal healers for redemption. “Prevalence of the disease has crept higher to between six and seven per cent of the adult population in Southern Sudan,” Lomore added. There are more new HIV infections coming up every year and these are mostly concentrated among the married couples, he said.

The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, blamed the increase on culture norms where men inherit infected widows. He noted the influx of foreigners and returnees into the region as a major stimulator of the infection as well. “Ironically, South Sudan appears to be a victim of its success”, he said. After the signing of the 2005 peace deal, that ceased a two decade war, the region welcomed people from different countries, which he affirmed have contributed hugely to the rising number of people living with HIV / AIDS.  “Statistical data coming from various locations show the disease is more widespread along international boarders than the interior, more in bigger towns than the rural areas,” he said.

Lukia Jafar, a mother living with the virus, said: “Men in Southern Sudan have risky sexual behavior. As a result, fewer people are using condoms regularly and more people, including married people and others in long-term relationships, are taking on multiple sexual partners. Grassroots mobilization is hardly achievable due to logistical and financial bottlenecks,” she added.

Dr Viana Kakuli Aggrey, chairperson of the Southern Sudan AIDS Commission said the situation is not changing due to a huge magnitude and yet the available resources do not match it: “Reasons leading to the huge problem include low knowledge of transmission and prevention which is below 10%, illicit commercial sex activities in main towns, poverty, availability of cultural norms that favor transmission of the virus such as the widow inheritance, polygamy, initation marks etc.” She cited the South of Western Equatoria State where, she said, counties like Yambio, Tambura, Nzara, Ezo are leading in the number of infected people compared to any other geographical areas. Dr Viana pointed out that the ceiling for the last four years has been stagnant at 0.1% of the government budget. However, she lamented the commission’s efforts to highlight the epidemic specifics in each state, especially Western Equatoria State.

Joe Feeney, the UNDP head of office, one of the major sponsors of HIVAIDS programme in South Western Sudan confirmed that if people don’t know their status, the virus will be so difficult to fight. He called for a massive participation of people in voluntary testing and counseling.