A HIV activist is calling on people living with AIDS in Lakes State to go public and organize groups to combat stigma and discrimination.
Evelyn Letio from Southern Sudan Network of People Living with HIV told Good News Radio she was in Lakes State to appeal to HIV infected people to come out and organize themselves into legally registered groups to access treatment and live a “long, healthy, and productive life.”Lakes State has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in South Sudan.
Ms. Letio is living with the HIV virus for over 20 years.
She said she is alive because God wanted to give her the mission to accept her status and speak freely about it.
Ms. Letio said she seeks prompt medical attention whenever she feels sick.
Ms. Letio advised the public to know their HIV status by going to a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCT).
She urged people to take precautions to prevent infection, insisting that HIV virus does not respect people’s positions or ages.