AIDS-Related Deaths Rise Among Conflict Affected Population-OCHA

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Bulleting further says that as the world commemorated World AIDS Day on last December, South Sudan health partners reported an increase in AIDS-related deaths among displaced people, mainly due to complications related to disrupted treatment or limited access to treatment. 

“Even before the crisis began, only about 7 per cent of people who needed treatment for HIV/AIDS had access to it. This national average was even lower in the three conflict-affected states where just over 1,100 people out of an estimated 20,700 (5.3 per cent) were able to access treatment” says OCHA. 

“Until the third quarter of 2014, very minimal HIV and tuberculosis treatment services were available to displaced people. About 15 per cent of tuberculosis patients are also living with HIV” OCHA stated.

“Tuberculosis is itself a major public health problem in South Sudan, with prevalence at 257 per 100,000 people in 2012” it adds. 

OCHA said in September 2014, the World Health Organization deployed a team of clinicians to support HIV treatment in Mingkaman, Bor, Malakal and Bentiu on a roving basis.

According to OCHA, the team is working with health partners on the ground to build capacity for HIV treatment, preventing mother to child transmission, voluntary counseling and testing, and HIV commodity management. 

“So far the programme has reached 62 displaced people living with HIV are receiving anti-retroviral therapy and another 197 are receiving pre-antiretroviral therapy care, mainly at Awerial and Bor” OCHA added.

“Other displaced people in Juba and Nimule have also been able to resume HIV treatment, although the numbers still remain very low.” 

OCHA also reveals that the majority of the over 1,100 people who had been receiving HIV treatment in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile prior to the crisis are still at large.

However, overall UNAIDS estimates that at least 25,000 people living with HIV are directly affected by theconflict and urgently need access to HIV treatment, care and support services.