South Sudan Stakeholders have experience optimism on the resumption of essential health services to HIV/AID patients after US waiver in January.
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending US foreign development assistance for 90 days to evaluate programmatic efficiencies and consistency with US foreign policy.
Meanwhile two weeks after the suspension, the US government issued waiver and directed the Implementers of existing life-saving humanitarian assistance programs to resume work.
However, in South Sudan, stakeholders expressed that HIV patients remain traumatize after long suffering without visiting health facilities to access medication.
Peter Garang the Executive Director of Executive Director of the Network of AIDS and Health Service Organizations of South Sudan (NASOSS) revealed that the country registered un expected death of HIV patient after the aids cut.
“The few we know in March we had two clients dying of AIDS which is not suppose to happened” Garang said
He called on the government to double efforts to avoid the previous should the partners helping face inadequate fund.
“We shall even see more people dying because since this dilemma came in, there were reports of people losing lives, there is need for government to intervene” he said
Garang added that the future is unpredictable until put more efforts on HIV programs and initiatives.
“The future of HIV respond is unpredictable, starting even this year, we may see an increase in HIV new infections, So the future is unpredictable until we act as the government” he said.
“We still have a wider gap because the government is not putting in a single money in HIV interventions, we are at the Mercy of Donors i am glad that we are hearing from the leaders that it is now their commitment” he added
Garang added that the aid cut has great impact on the citizen at large not only the patient.
“We have around 15 local organizations that are affected by this and when we talk about 15 people you can imagine the impact on the staff and the volunteers who was about 293 staffs and volunteers affect by this”
“In term of numbers, we have received number of six people whose HIV status worsen during the period, that is the last stage before you die which is not suppose to be there because there we shock, the community activities stop” he added.
He however appreciated the waiver adding that there is need for government to put more efforts to fill the existing gabs.
The Activist called on the HIV/Aids Patient to return for their normal medication adding some of the patient remain traumatized.
“The services are continuing this is what the clients, people who are taking drugs know that ARVs Drugs are there” he said
“It was reported that in one month time South Sudan is going to ran out of ARVs which i want affirm that HRVs are there all the facilities that were initially affected for two weeks resume work” he added
On her part Dr Esterina Novello chairperson of South Sudan Aid Commission urged the government to fund their strategic plans.
She expressed that there is need for extra work to ensure that health services are improved in the country
On separate statement in respond to the USA aids cut, Evelyn Letio Unzi, program coordinator for the National Empowerment for Positive Women United (NEPWU), explained that it impacted vital contributions from PEPFAR and USAID.
“Every year, NEPWU receives approximately $1 million from PEPFAR for community activities. This funding supports outreach programs, awareness campaigns, and various community initiatives, not direct treatment but vital services that keep HIV prevention and care alive in South Sudan,” Letio said on Monday.
The immediate effects of the aid freeze are already being felt.
“Since the Stop Work Order was imposed, 1,500 people living with HIV have missed crucial appointments, including their ARV doses. These disruptions in treatment can lead to drug resistance, a rise in new HIV transmissions, and a potential health crisis,” Letio remarked.
The country’s prevention programs, which include condom distribution, awareness campaigns, and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), are also at risk due to the funding freeze.
