Health officials launch HIV/AIDS testing drive in Unity state

November 23, 2013 (BENTIU) – Health officials in South Sudan’s Unity state have started a week of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS in areas surrounding the capital, Bentiu.

Health officials declared on Saturday that the three free testing centre’s would be in Naivasha freedom square in Bentiu, Biemrouk and Bentiu Kalibalek markets.

Paul Mabany a state coordinator for the South Sudan Aids Commission said they were launching the programme before world AIDS day in order to let people know the importance of the occasion.

Mabany says continued awareness about HIV/AIDs in the community will help to reduce the spread of deadly sexually transmitted disease. He said some people are unwillingly to go public testing centres.

“Sometime the culture is something different not allowing people to use condoms, and you know stigma and discrimination is also another issue because people talking about it. They are still in hiding, they are not willing to share their HIV status in public” making it difficult for them to receive treatment, Mabany said in an interview with Sudan Tribune.

He warned young people between the ages 15 to 45 who are sexual active to immediately go for an HIV/AIDS to test at the VCT centres as knowing the result will help people “plan your future life”, Mabany said.

Stephen Odera, an HIV/AIDS officer for the United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) which works as a partner with Unity state’s health ministry and South Sudan Aids Commission.

Awareness activities are often conducting in conjunction with sports and other actvities, he said.

Such competitions result in people asking about HIV/AIDS enabling the UN and health workers “to tell people actually more on what is going on”, added Odera.

Odera, who has worked on HIV/AIDS programmes in South Sudan since 2007 say frequent public campaigns on the dangers of the disease have improved the situation.

“Honestly I see a lot of improvement when I go back to from the time I started HIV programme in the country. When I try to compare there is a lot of improvement and still I can tell that we are heading somewhere but there still a lot to be done”, said Odera.

In Bentiu town over a dozen health officials are conducting voluntary counseling and testing mobilisation campaigns.

(ST)