Port Sudan December 1, 2023 The Sudanese Ministry of Health revealed, on Friday, that there are 42,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Sudan, the majority of whom suffer from a lack of diagnosis or treatment in light of the war.
Acting Sudanese Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, said in a press circular that the AIDS epidemic in Sudan has been classified as a low epidemic over the past ten years, as the prevalence of AIDS among the general population last year was estimated at about 0.1%, and the number of individuals living with the virus in the same year reached With about 42 thousand cohabitants.
The Minister acknowledged that there are challenges facing limiting the spread of AIDS, most notably the economic crises, the country’s instability, and the current complex circumstances, in addition to the effects of AIDS patients on war, as the majority remain without diagnosis or treatment in addition to their interruption of treatment, which requires everyone to make efforts to reach patients and provide them with treatment.
The Minister stressed that AIDS is still a health threat in Sudan, and attributed this to several reasons, including the instability of population centers, the country’s proximity to countries with high rates of infection with the virus, the overlap between neighboring countries, the movement of displacement and population centers, in addition to the stigma that is still a concern.
He pointed out that the Ministry is responding to the epidemic by implementing programs and strategies aimed at reducing the spread of the disease, represented by screening, providing treatment and screening services, and using prevention strategies.
The Minister explained that the Federal Ministry of Health and the international community are working to combat AIDS, stressing that attention to AIDS patients is in fulfillment of the slogan “We will not leave anyone behind.”
He stressed the necessity of the role of the positive media message in educating communities and combating stigma, and continued, “The message and methods of communication must be determined, especially since awareness is the safety valve in protection and combating stigma.”
The Minister announced sustainable political development goals by 2030 to end AIDS in Sudan as it is a threat to public health in accordance with established strategies.
The Minister affirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Health to provide examination and treatment aids, in addition to providing safe blood transfusion services, meeting infection control requirements, proper disposal of medical waste, and providing services to prevent vertical transmission of the virus from an infected mother to her fetus.
He called for working hand in hand to achieve universal coverage and eliminate AIDS.
The health sector in Sudan has been in continuous deterioration for years, which has made its response to epidemics very weak, amid fears that it will collapse as a result of the war that has erupted between the army and the Rapid Support since April 15 this year.
2023-12-01 18:32:31
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