The HIV/Aids Commission has rejected media reports that HIV/Aids is on the increase in South Sudan.

The Citizen newspaper

reported that HIV/Aids is on the increase because of, it says, “the sexual practices of people living in cities such as Juba”.

The chairperson of South Sudan’s HIV/Aids Commission, Esterina Nabello, told Eye Radio that the latest data point to a reduction in the prevalence of HIV/Aids in the country.

“According to our latest data, it’s reducing. If there is any information, if there is any study done of late which we don’t know about that is showing that HIV/Aids in South Sudan is on the increase, we would like to have it so that we see where the study was done, when and how, because that will be good information for us. I for one have doubts. That information is not correct, there is nothing like that, what we know is that HIV has reduced from three percent to two point six percent. Maybe after the end of this year when we analyze the data we have at the moment that we are monitoring we shall inform the public whether we are on the increase or decrease,” Ms Nabello said.

The HIV/Aids Commission was set up after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005.

It says that more than 150,000 people live with HIV/Aids in South Sudan.