Jonglei celebrates World Aids Day

By Philip Thon Aleu

December 1, 2008 (BOR TOWN) – School children match with banners
denouncing entry of HIV/Aids into the ‘New Sudan’, seek protection
from government, parents and arguing fellows colleagues to avoid
‘corners of the pandemic’ Monday December 1st in Jonglei.

Children, elderly and mid ages understand that Aids is a chief killer
disease but do not understand how it infect people. Deng Peter, a
thirteen year-old pupil of Bor “A” primary schools says “Aids is
acquired through sexual intercourse and can be avoided by fearing
something…especially random sex.” Girls from this primary school,
tight by culture, tranquil to making comments on how Aids is infects
human but say “is a killer diseases.”

Southern Sudan started celebrating World Aids Day after the signing of
Comprehensive Peace Agreement and forming Southern Sudan Aids
Commission. However, efforts made to voluntarily disclosing Aids
victims in Jonglei state remain futile.

Traditional leaders warn the
youths against what they call “modernity of today.” “Those years, a
girl listen to her mother’s advise and remain clean [virgin] till
marry. Boy did the same. But today, things are different so you have
to adopt the modernity carefully,” an elderly woman told a rally at
Bor constitutional square today.

State Minister for health Dr. Agot Alier Leek empathizes the threat
pose by Aids to health sectors and Jonglei registering “many cases of
Aids” but unable to specify the rate and percentage overall.

He argued
the youth to use condoms when absenting from sex till marrying becomes
impossible. Present at the ceremony are Deputy Governor Hussien Mar
Nyout and State Minister for Physical Infrastructures Amuor Kuol. Both
leaders press the public to embark anti-Aids campaigns.

The state
officials request home university students [from Dr. John Garang de
Mabior Institute of Science and Technology] to uphold government
slogans of ant-Aids through public campaigns to be organized by State
Ministry of Health.

Aids kills thousands of people worldwide and a good percentage of this
dies in Africa. Southern Sudan, deprived of wealth by decades of war
is not incomparable either. The semi-autonomous region hosts citizens
from countries where Aids is among world high record rates.

(ST)