South Sudan HIV/AIDS Commission is sensitizing people on stigma and discrimination, violence related to HIV, TB and impact mitigation in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State.
South Sudan HIV/AIDS Commission Director for Monitoring and Evaluation, Maika Lisok explains to Radio Easter on Thursday that the training aims at increasing knowledge on prevention of HIV.
The official says other objective includes reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination at individual, interpersonal community and institutional level.
The training is also to help understand stigma and discrimination and violence related mitigation strategies at individual and community levels, Maika notes.
The official adds that the course will help in reduction in the prevalence of violence, harmful/risky social and cultural practices among the population.
“Our objective for this training is to increase knowledge on HIV prevention, reduce HIV related stigma and discrimination at individual, interpersonal community and institutional level. It is also to reduce the prevalence of violence harmful/risky social and cultural practice among the general public. We also want the participants to understand stigma and discrimination and violence related mitigation strategies at individual and community level,” explains the director.
Lisok reveals that the training brought together 30 participants comprising of religious leaders, youth and women groups, people living with HIV, police, military defence and traditional leaders.
“The people composed here are 30 participants ranging from the religious leaders, youth and women groups people living with HIV, police military defence and traditional authority”, the director reveals.
The officer advice the public to know their HIV status and avoid living with stigma but visit health centers in order to live a healthy life.