South Sudan will not meet HIV/AIDS target by 2030: VP

By Simon Deng

The Vice President for Economic Cluster, James Wani Igga on Thursday said South Sudan will not meet the global target of eradicating HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 2030 due to underfunding of the health sector.

 “Without mobilizing domestic resources and strategic use of development assistance, the Republic of South Sudan is unlikely to achieve sustainable development and global goal of ending AIDS, TB and Malaria by 2030,” Wani said.

He was speaking during the symposium organized by the Health Committee in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly at Palm Africa Hotel in Juba.

“There is need to explore other innovative sources of funding to ensure that coordination, data governance, social protection and community support are adequately covered,” he said.

Wani said the government remains committed to provide basic health services to the people.

Adding that many lives have been lost due to lack of medical equipment, drugs, and inadequate qualified human resources in public hospitals.

“Though much more needs to be done, South Sudan has remarkable progress against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria but still below the level we are aspiring for,” Wani noted.

Fabian Ndenzako, the Country Representative for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that health indicators in the country are discouraging, noting that multi-sectoral engagement is needed to improve health services. 

Esterina Novello Nyilok, the Chairperson for HIV/AIDS Commission, said that the government needs to involve private sector in health sector.

 “It is time for us as government to take responsibility and find innovative ways of involving private sector for sustainability and to direct resources towards high impact intervention that maximize benefits,” Nyilok said.