More than 1,000 people undergoing Anti-retroviral treatment for AIDS in Western Bahr El Ghazal on Wednesday received food assistance at Wau Teaching Hospital.
The monthly food distribution started in 2005 but came to a halt last year due to food shortages, Voice of Hope reported.The distribution resumed last April and the number of beneficiaries on ARV or Anti-retroviral treatment duplicated from 500 to 1,000.
The beneficiaries include some clients from the nearby states of Warrap and Western Equatoria as well as orphans from parents who died of AIDS related illnesses.
Deputy Chairperson of the Association for People Living with HIV AIDS, Rita Batista Fada, was in charge of the food distribution at the hospital. She said the anti-retroviral drugs are very strong and patients need proper food for better and positive living.
The Western Bahr El Ghazal HIV AIDS unit has increased voluntary counselling and testing centres to help identify clients who can freely enrol for the ARV drugs program.
HIV AIDS acting director at Wau Teaching Hospital John Akile Adam said the creation of these centres is to bring services to the people.
He reiterated that the number of HIV positive people keeps increasing in the state.
Dr Akile said people in the state are now accepting voluntary testing and counselling to know their status since the pandemic is quite prevalent in the area.
The assistance came through World Food Program in collaboration with the Western Bahr El Ghazal health ministry for people who joined the ARV program.