Rigid traditions blamed for alarming HIV in states
South Sudan AIDS Commission has raised concern over the increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence in Lakes, Warrap and Western Bahr el-Ghazal states. The prevalence of infections has been attributed to traditions such as wife inheritance.
Dr Marial Philip Khoc, the Director-General for program coordination of the South Sudan AIDS Commission, said that according to estimates for 2021, HIV infection cases had dropped from 200,000 to 180,000
“This is not a small number; it is significant, and it requires our collective efforts to reduce it as much as possible,” Dr Marial said.
He was speaking during an HIV awareness workshop for line ministries in Juba on Tuesday.
While the country’s total HIV prevalence rate is 2.3 per cent, there are growing worries regarding a shift in prevalence rates from the Greater Equatoria region to Lakes and Warrap states.
Dr Marial said those states have been reporting a high incidence of HIV infections. However, he said HIV is everywhere in the country despite concentrations in certain areas.
Wife inheritance, traditional healers, and other factors have contributed to the high prevalence rates.
“One of the factors contributing to the country’s rising HIV infection rates is wife inheritance, which is a cultural tradition in several communities,’’ he revealed.
“Someone’s wife is inherited by a brother who is still alive, and you have no idea what that woman’s or man’s [HIV] status was,” he said.
Traditional healers who cut flesh with crude instruments have also been blamed for the infections. According to Dr Marial, the proportion of people who have knowledge about HIV prevention is quite low.
“People do not have enough information to protect themselves,” he said.
“Some people acquire the diseases from towns, and when they go back to the villages, they are regarded as very important people and based on the cultures, the youth interact freely, hence contributing to new infections,” he explained.
However, the Ministry of Health has intensified HIV testing services in all health facilities across the country, and partners are working to mobilise the distribution of testing kits.
Rights manual
The South Sudan AIDS commission also plans to roll out the legal document for training people living with HIV and vulnerable groups to know their legal rights.
“Any person who is HIV positive has a right to be given health services. They are liable not to be discriminated against, and HIV positive inmates have a right to receive their medication.” That manual elaborates this well,” said Dr Marial.
“They have the right to all services provided by the government.”
The AIDS commission also met with the Juba City Council authorities to discuss the different laws that may criminalise HIV patients.
Dr Marial told The City Review that HIV prevention efforts will be intensified to bring down the prevalence.
“We hope that we can work hand in hand to ensure that key affected populations are given services and not discriminated against.”
The workshop, supported with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, brought all line ministries up-to-date together to discuss the latest trends of HIV infection in the country.
