FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
Juba-South Sudan–April 15th, 2025
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, on behalf of Civil Society and Community Led Organizations contributing towards the realization of AIDS-Free South Sudan, I take this opportunity to thank you for honoring the invitation for the Joint Press Release by the South Sudan HIV/AIDS Commission and Network of AIDS and Health Service Organizations of South Sudan (NASOSS) on the state of HIV Service provision in South Sudan.
The significance of this Press Release is to inform beneficiaries of HIV Services across the Country who are left in a dilemma after the news of the United States President’s executive order calling for a 90-day pause in US foreign development assistance. As Civil Society, we acknowledged that immediately after the order, the State Department issued a limited waiver on life-saving interventions which include HIV care and treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The Limited waiver allowed Parts of South Sudan that are supported through PEPFAR grants to continue with the provision of care and treatment services.
However, on behalf of Civil Society Organizations, we want to bring to the attention of the government and the people of South Sudan that, HIV community programs that are critical enablers to HIV care and treatment fell outside the ‘’life-saving’’ criteria. Examples are DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) AND OVC (Orphan and Vulnerable Children) programs important in enhancing HIV health outcomes for children, adolescents, and vulnerable families to reduce HIV infection among Adolescent girls and young women as well as social-economic skills and educational opportunities to orphans and vulnerable children, comprehensive HIV prevention programs to Key Populations, LIFT UP project design to increase demand for HIV testing, care and treatment adherence among children under 15 years living with HIV, targeted awareness raising and reduction of stigma and discrimination and Community-Led Monitoring that was implemented in 22 facilities, an approach that Empowers communities to systematically monitor and advocate for improvements in HIV Services, ensuring that they meet the needs and preferences of those affected by HIV.
The stoppage of these community interventions designed to serve over 38,000 beneficiaries both People Living with HIV and Priority Populations at the time we were advocating for a considerate scale-up to many parts of the Country posed a risk of increased HIV transmission among Adolescent Girls and Young Women, Key and Priority Populations, Interruption in treatment, reduced demand for HIV services, limited HIV awareness, increased vulnerability among Orphans and Vulnerable children, and school drop out in areas where these interventions were implemented.
Occasionally since then, our phone conversations with support groups and people living with HIV are indicated worry outcome of interruption in treatment, the individual being bedridden, loss of lives, and many left in dilemma on what next? Some have to irregularly take their drugs due to the fear of stock out as reported by some media houses, though drug procurement and supply are not affected because they are handled by different donors.
It is on this background that we join the South Sudan HIV/AIDS Commission today to call for action the government of South Sudan through them and the Ministry of Health to;
- Recognize the critical nature of these community-led and based interventions in achieving reduction of HIV new infections, death, stigma, and discrimination and immediately work around the clock to ensure their continuity and scale up.
- Establish and implement alternative funding mechanisms which include domestic resources to ensure the continuity of these HIV care and treatment synergies.
- Develop and implement a sustainable Resource Mobilization strategy to reduce extreme over-reliance on External Aid
- Consistently update the beneficiaries in the event of unforeseen shocks and above all
- Strong call for the government to take full ownership of the health of its citizens and invest in HIV response in fulfillment of Abuja declaration must realize this commitment of increased resource envelope on health starting in 2025/2026 fiscal budget.
If the government does not act decisively and promptly during the era, then we must get prepared to deal with catastrophic public health burdens.