By Tapeng Michael Ohure
South Sudan has relaunched a guideline that will help the country in combating the HIV pandemic.
The guideline spells out the prevention and treatment of the pandemic.
Alongside, the country’s Health Ministry also received a Data Management Unit from its health partners ICAP and as well the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) from the African Development Bank and the WHO.
Speaking to journalists during the handover of the two facilities in Juba on Thursday, the Minister of Health, Elizabeth Acuei Yol hailed partners for helping the health sector.
“These new guidelines will set the platform for all partners implementing HIV/AIDS in order to have a standardized approach to respond to the HIV pandemic in South Sudan,” Yol added.
Speaking during the same occasion, the US Deputy Head of Mission in South Sudan, William Flens said his country is proud to partner with South Sudan and the World Health Organisation “in helping to revive the national HIV/AIDS treatment guidelines to provide for the emerging needs of HIV programs with evolving science on HIV treatment and therapeutics.”
The Ministry of Health Undersecretary Dr. Victoria Anib described launching the guideline as a milestone.
“The people living with HIV in South Sudan need quality services, they need to live with dignity and providing services for them is our priority,” Anib said.
According to WHO Country Representative, Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, it “is an indication that our surveillance system, our data system is working, and we can quickly detect and prevent many outbreaks and other diseases in a real time manner.”
For his part, African Development Bank representative Flavio Soares said the bank is committed to support the government of South Sudan development efforts.
In July 2020, African Development Bank provided a grant of $3.5 billion dollars to regional members to strengthen health systems and economy in the continent. South Sudan was given by ADB $4.2 US dollars to respond to its health needs.
According to the Ministry of Health, over 174,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in South Sudan.
