Kapoeta South County in Eastern Equatoria has reported a
major health risk, with over 1,000 HIV/AIDS infections confirmed.
Health officials revealed this information during a radio
talk show on HIV/AIDS awareness on Singaita FM on Wednesday evening.
Arapa Louis, the ICAP HIV/TB officer for Greater Kapoeta,
stated that the Kapoeta South County Hospital is currently treating 1,200
HIV/AIDS patients.
Louis attributed the rise in HIV/AIDS cases to economic
activities, information gaps, and Kapoeta Town's proximity.
“We found out that people from here take drugs from
Torit, Juba, or even Kenya. So, they don’t know them,” he said.
According to Louis, the increase in HIV cases in Kapoeta
South highlights the ongoing challenges in managing and preventing the disease
in the region.
The greater Kapoeta has been noted for its high
prevalence of HIV, contributing to broader public health issues in South Sudan.
According to a 2016 National Ministry of Health report,
the region had over 15,000 reported cases, making it one of the areas with the
highest prevalence of HIV in the country, second to the defunct Gbudwe State,
which had around 200,000 cases.
Many individuals in the area remain unaware of their HIV
status or lack access to necessary treatment and care.
Addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis in Kapoeta South requires
a multifaceted approach.
This includes increasing awareness and education about
the disease, as well as enhancing healthcare resources to support those
affected.
The South Sudan Antenatal Clinic sentinel surveillance
for HIV/syphilis 2020 report indicates that Eastern Equatoria State has a
prevalence of 2.2 percent infection.
The data have been used to generate national HIV/AIDS
because the country lacks resources to conduct national population-based
household surveys to determine HIV prevalence in the country.