UN agency rolls out health services in displacement sites in S. Sudan
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E-mail Xinhua, November 8, 2017
JUBA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN migration agency said on Tuesday that it has completed rollout of comprehensive HIV/AIDs services in three protections of civilian (PoC) sites in South Sudan, enabling thousands to access counseling, testing, and treatment.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the rollout of health services at the Bentiu, Malakal and Wau PoC sites will benefit an estimated population of 171,000 people, as well as the host community.
"The expansion of services is a crucial development in South Sudan, where internally displaced persons, such as those living in the PoC sites, are among key populations that are considered to be at higher-risk of contracting HIV/AIDS," Salma Taher, IOM Global Fund Project Officer said in a statement issued in Juba.
According to the UN, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis were in 2016 the leading causes of mortality in the PoC sites, where people are often unable to access health facilities outside the sites due to protection concerns or destruction of public infrastructure.
Since 2014, IOM has been providing HIV/AIDS services to pregnant mothers at the PoC sites through Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS.
"Since the roll out began in July, IOM has tested 213 people, with 16 testing positive and enrolling in antiretroviral treatment," the UN migration agency said.
Through the advocacy of IOM and the UN Development Fund, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria expanded funding to enable the start-up and roll out of services for the general population visiting the clinics in the PoC sites, not only pregnant mothers.
According to the IOM, with timely diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral medication, the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients has been proven to improve substantially - 10 years for men and 9 years for women, as evidenced in a recent analysis of cohort studies
The IOM said a core component to comprehensive services is awareness raising and sensitization to both encourage testing and destigmatize the disease among the displaced population.
Through the Global Fund support, IOM has trained over 450 peer counselors across the country, including 51 at the Bentiu and Malakal PoC sites. Enditem
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