In Aweil East, patients have almost completely stopped going to the state health facility in Malualkon town for treatment, a month after it ran out of drugs.

While the hospital is usually full, now there are less than a dozen patients.

When it does have a supply of drugs, the hospital gives the treatment for free.

But patients say they are told to go to the pharmacies to buy medication after getting a prescription from a health worker.

Many say they cannot afford to pay for the drugs they need.

Attempts to reach a clinical officer for comment have been unsuccessful.

However, Aweil East State health minister William Ater says drugs will soon arrive from the National ministry of health.

But he could not give an exact date.