Category: Health

39,000 young people infected with HIV in 3 years – MoH

The Ministry of Health has disclosed that 39,000 young people including women were infected with HIV and AIDs between 2019 and 2021.

Dr. Harriet Akello Pasquale, who is the Director for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections at the Ministry of Health disclosed the data to Eye Radio, Wednesday.

She said the infection was recorded mainly among sexually active young men and women between the age of 18 and 39 years.

Dr Harriet Pasquale revealed that the health ministry documented a 6,000-record high infection in 2019; 16,000 in 2020 and 18,000 in 2021 respectively.

“Just to give you an update regarding the HIV weight of new infection among the young. In 2019 we had about 6,000 young men and women who tested positive for HIV. In 2020, we had about 15,000 who tested positive and in 2021 we had about 18,000,” She told Eye Radio on Wednesday.

The overall figure was diagnosed from 796,000 tests carried out in the three-year period across the country.

Dr. Harriet attributes the significant number of positive tests to an increase in the number of people who have come out voluntarily to know their status.

“If you look at these figures, it shows an increase. But also, if you look at the number of young people who tested for HIV, it has increased.  In 2019, it was about 14,000 while in 2020 it was about 346,000 while in 2021 it was about 436,000,” Dr. Harriet said.

In 2021, 436,000 young people voluntarily visited the health centers to test for the virus.

The official stated that the figure shows an increase in the number of young people turning up for the HIV testing and counseling across the country.

“So basically, we see there is an increase in the number of people who tested positive, but also, we see an increase in the number of people who came out to be tested,” she said.

According to the health official, about 47,000 people are currently receiving Anti-Retroviral drugs in the country.

A 2021 WHO projection indicated that HIV infection rate in South Sudan is estimated to be at 2.1 percent, with more than 170,000 people currently presumed to be living with the disease.

This is more than double from the 2020 World Bank’s projection which was at 1 percent.

HIV and AIDS remains a major public health threat with prevalence of 2.1 percent according to the 2021 projection.

The disease is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusion with an infected person or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.

 However, the disease can be prevented by use of condom, being faithful to one sexual partner with a negative test result, as well as avoiding used razor blades, syringes and needles.

JICA’s Juba water plant to be ready in early 2023

The first water plant project in Juba will be in operation early next year, according to the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Dr.Tanaka Akihito

In 2013, the Japan International Cooperation Agency—JICA initiated a water treatment plant that includes the construction of a service reservoir and pipes for distribution in Juba.

The project was, however, interrupted by years of violence that resulted in the Japanese government evacuating its engineers from the country.

“Am very pleased to know that the construction is on track and so the entire system will be in operation in February next year, ” Tanaka Akihito told reporters at the water plant site adjacent to the R-TNLA.

According to JICA, the water project when completed, will provide clean water to almost the entire population in Juba.

“Based on the completion of this water supply system, nearly four hundred thousand people in juba will have access to safe and clean water. Water is essential for everyone”.

Dr Akihito assured Juba that water would be in operation in February next year.

“So, you have to wait several more months and I cannot tell you exactly when the second phase will start but it’s in our consideration now.”

The water tanks are the main lifeline of water consumption for businesses and residents of the national capital, Juba.

Most residents of Juba rely on untreated water drawn from the Nile by private water tanker operators.

In August last year, the Charge d’ Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Juba said the water supply system being constructed in Juba would be completed early this year.

Medical doctor killed in cold blood in Nimule

A veteran medical doctor was killed in the outskirts of Nimule town on Thursday evening, Nimule Police confirmed.

“He is by the name Patrick Kumunu Wani, who was deployed there in Mugali as a medical officer. During the crisis, he moved together with the IDPs and he lived with them in the church compound”, Nimule Police Inspector, Major David Kasimiro said.

The 75-year-old doctor was found in a pool of his blood at sunset, in what police presume as a targeted killing.

Major Kasimiro said the deceased Kumunu had left the brother’s house Friday when he was killed by unidentified persons.

“On [Thursday], he left the compound to take his radio for repair. When he was coming back, he went to a military barracks to his brother’s house and stayed there until 5:30 PM.”

“His brother told him, please don’t go, you sleep here and tomorrow you will go. He said no, I will go, there is no problem because everybody knows me.”

Dr. Kumunu did not hid to the brother’s advice, to spend the night with him given the precarious security situation in area

“Then he left and before he reached the compound, he met some people and he was slaughtered by those people. And we got the information at 6:30 PM.”

“I sent the police and we got that he was the doctor, and the police have been searching for these people, but up to now, we did not arrest anybody.”

The circumstances surrounding his killing are not clear, and no one has been arrested.

The incident happened a week after a high-level delegation of security officials visited the area to quell ethnic tension.

Kasimiro said there is fear outside of Nimule town and advises people against moving at night.

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