The rate of HIV prevalence in Lakes State slightly reduced from 2.4 to 2.3 percent, and over 1,500 people live with the virus.
State Health Ministry HIV Aids Director Moses Ater said on Friday that reports from various Voluntary Counselling and Testing or VCT Centres unveiled the status of women during antenatal visits in the last three months, Good News Radio reported.
He added that nearly 500 patients were receiving Antiretroviral drugs in Rumbek Civil Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mapuordit, Yirol West County.
Mr Ater said stigma and discrimination remained the major challenges in the fight against HIV Aids pandemic in Lakes State.
The HIV Aids Director added that limited staff and funding also made it difficult to conduct awareness campaigns and VCT services especially in the remote areas of Rumbek North and Awerial Counties.
Mr Ater urged citizens to turn up for Voluntary Counselling and Testing ahead of World Aids Day celebrations on December 2 in Rumbek.