Torit State Hospital says it receives high number of youth, seeking for voluntary counselling and testing.
Rose Kulang says the young people always come to the health facility with their partners or alone, Radio Emmanuel reports.
“Youth come with their sexual partners or single, they say they hear there are a lot of infection in the community so it’s important for them to know their status, so they come voluntarily because they have the information within the community, we are also giving the information through the radio and even their friend who come to get the test do encourage colleagues to come for the test too. I also encourage you to know your HIV status, it’s free and important for our communities to know their status”.
Ms Kulang calls on the population to prevent further spread of the virus by knowing their HIV status and starts early treatment.
“Let us come and know our status, it’s not good when we stay in the community of which we will continue infecting people without knowing our status. If you come early and test yourself and are found positive, you will be initiated on drugs early to avoid opportunistic infections, because late enrolment is not good, it leads to death. The infection is really very rampant within the community, I really request my people to come with their families to test and know their status. People are coming to know their status on Hepatitis B and C but for HIV, they fear, of which there is HIV medication that can prolong your life”.
Every 1st of December, the world commemorates International AIDS day to raise awareness on the virus.
The day is also an opportunity for the community to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Eastern Equatoria State joined the world on Wednesday in commemorating World Aids Day, under the theme, End inequality, End AIDS, End pandemic.