Open borders favour spread of HIV and AIDS in South Sudan – Commission www.sudancatholicradio.net Juba, 01/12/11 - Returnees and foreigners coming into South Sudan are exposing its population to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Achol Ayom, deputy chairperson of the Anti-AIDS Commission, said during an interview with CRN News. She said at least 300,000 people are currently carrying the HIV virus in South Sudan adding that the number is likely to grow due to the arrival of returnees and foreigners in the region. She added that the war protected South Sudan from AIDS but if the new state is not able to win the battle against the virus, independence gains will be put at risk. Dr. Achol advised that people should stick to the ABC of AIDS that stands for abstinence of sex before marriage, being faithful to one’s spouse or use a condom if one cannot do without sex. She called upon communities to refrain from discriminating people living with HIV noting that the virus is not transmitted through associating with them. Dr. Achol said the government is working towards a zero new infections and zero discrimination adding that this dream cannot be achieved if the community does not join hands to fight the virus together.
AIDS threatens South Sudan army www.sudancatholicradio.net Juba, 02/12/11 - The HIV Aids prevalence among South Sudan army members is higher than the national average. A report financed by the US Department of Defence disclosed that while HIV 3.1%of South Sudan’s population, 4.4% of SPLA personnel are HIV positive, Africa Review reported. The figures provided food for thought for South Sudan’s celebration of World Aids Day. According to a behaviour survey conducted with the support of the US department, the high infection rate in the army was the result of unfaithful soldiers engaging in unprotected sex. The research said that 56%of those infected in the army did not use condoms and knew nothing about the virus. Another 44% said they contracted the virus under the influence of alcohol. The research was conducted over a period of three months. SPLA Chief of General Staff, James Hoth Mai, told hundreds who gathered to mark the day at Dr John Garang Mausoleum yesterday that these findings indicate that South Sudan still faces enormous challenges as a country in its efforts to address the HIV pandemic. National Assembly summons three ministers over repatriation finances www.sudancatholicradio.net Juba, 01/12/11 - Members of the National Legislative Assembly have summoned three ministers to explain how over 90 million Sudanese pounds allocated for the repatriation of returnees were spent. The order followed a motion raised by members of the Committee of Gender and Social Welfare after visits to way stations in Khartoum, Renk and Kosti a couple of weeks ago where they saw the poor conditions the waiting returnees live in. Deputy Chairperson of Gender and Social Welfare Committee Mary Nawai told CRN News that more than 30,000 returnees are stuck in waiting centres living in very harsh and hostile conditions, with not enough food, medication and shelter. She said the former and current ministers for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, James Kok and Joseph Lual Achuil, and the minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Kosti Manibe Ngai, have seven days to appear before the House. She explained that from 93 million pounds budgeted to be used to transport returnees to South Sudan, 60 million are unaccounted for while some contractors are still waiting to get their dues. She explained that IOM, the International Organization for Migrations, only transports returnees while their luggage is brought by the government. James Kok, former minister of Humanitarian Affairs, told CRN News that his ministry received less than half of the 93 million pounds that were budgeted for repatriation. He added that there was an extra 33 million directed by the President of the Republic to unknown recipients. He explained that some contractors were not paid because the ministry of finance did not release 20 million pounds. Although the UN reports that almost 360 thousand people have returned to South Sudan during the last 12 months, it notes that more than 300 thousand still await transportation from Sudan. Joint ministries of information coordination meeting closes in Juba www.sudancatholicradio.net Juba, 01/12/11 - People displaced from Abyei after the region was invaded by the Sudan Armed Forces last May, have started a slow return towards their homelands. Until last week over a dozen people were crossing the recently repaired Banton Bridge linking Agok and Abyei town every day while this week the daily crossings rose to some 60 people, with fewer numbers reportedly crossing back, UNOCHA wrote in its latest Sudan Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin. A Dinka Ngok committee registering returnees says some families are still assessing the situation and the majority of those crossing the bridge are leaving their children south of Kiir River. At the same time, people are returning to areas immediately south of the Kiir River. A report says that about 3,500 people, including approximately 2,000 children, are in Abathok village, immediately south of the river, 17 kilometres south of Abyei town. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
