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South Sudan

South Sudan Crisis: Risk of Reversal of HIV Gains - Time to Act Now!

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Situation:

According to OCHA as of 27 December, 2013, the estimated number of people displaced by in the current crisis in South Sudan has risen to 121,600. Given the limited access to civilians outside population centres, the number is likely to be significantly higher. According to the Humanitarian Coordinator, there are fears that those who have lost lives could number thousands and those displaced hundreds of thousands.

Hospitals around the country including Juba Teaching Hospital have admitted hundreds of patients, including many with gunshot wounds, both civilians and military personnel. Capacity is stretched, as limited numbers of medical personnel struggle with the increased number of patients.

This sudden upsurge in violence occurs in a country where 50% of the population lives below the national poverty line of 73 South Sudanese pounds (about $17) per month. The country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally (2,054 per 100,000 live births), and only 44 per cent of children are enrolled in primary school. UNAIDS estimates HIV prevalence in South Sudan to be 2.7% in 2012 making it a generalized epidemic. Prevalence in military personnel is higher at 4.4%. An estimated 150,000 people are living with HIV in the country. An estimated 12,000 new infections happen every year and about 13,000 die due to AIDS related illness.

South Sudan is one of the 38 high priority countries of UNAIDS. According to the UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2013, ART coverage in South Sudan at the end of 2012 stood at 9% based on WHO 2010 guidelines and this drops to 5% for children. Less than 50% of pregnant women in South Sudan have access to prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services and only 13% of those requiring ART for PMTCT received it in 2012. However, the country was making progress in 2013, In August the country’s first national HIV strategic plan 2013-2017 launched and the PMTCT scale up plan 2014-2018 with roll out of option B+ is in the pipeline.