W. Equatoria aims to strengthen health system to cope with HIV/AIDS
June 17, 2011 (YAMBIO) – A two-day workshop on strengthening health systems to respond to HIV/AIDS in Western Equatoria State, kicked off in Yambio on Thursday 16 June.
The workshop was organized by the state ministry of health and the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) targeting the leaders and politicians of the state to discuss key issues that affect the state’s health systems.
The Director of CMMB in South Sudan, Dr. Eyul James said the objective of the workshop is “to allow the key decision makers of the state well informed about HIV facts and realities.”
He added that it will also make the leaders get the in depth knowledge of the effect of HIV on economic growth.
The state minister of health Stephen Ali Kumoyangi said the “workshop is unique in nature as it targets leaders to mobilize the masses to fight against the deadly disease.”
He disclosed that when malaria was discovered the world paid high “attention for the fight off Malaria but today HIV has come and a lot is needed to minimize the rate of the disease in South Sudan.”
The state governor Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro said he appreciated the organisers of the workshop saying it has come at the right time for the politicians to know their roles in the fight against the disease.
“Most leaders do not want to talk openly about the disease or mobilise the communities on dangers of the disease,” he said.
Bakosoro stated that there are still misperceptions about the HIV/AIDS in the state due to low community awareness.
He disclosed that “the people living with HIV needs to be encouraged to free them from trauma – on how to live positive living.”
Bakosoro referenced that “there is a man in Kenya who has lived with the disease for about 27 years now since 1998 at 15 years he is positive with the disease and he is still healthy to date.”
He called upon the participants of the workshop to automatically convey the message of the about the prevention of the disease and to encourage HIV positive people living with the disease on how to live longer.
The governor revealed that he raised the issues facing the state in health while in the United States of America and discussions are under way on how to work together.
“We visited the International Clinic in the US to tell them about the health situation in South Sudan and Western Equatoria state in particular” he said.
Early last month the governor toured all the associations of people living with HIV/AIDS in Yambio County to encourage them about positive living after being infected with the virus.
Reports indicate that there are over 7,609 people living with HIV/AIDS in Western Equatoria State.
(ST)