The HIV and AIDS Commission Office at Wau Teaching Hospital has reported that the disease is still widespread in Western Bahr El Ghazal
Surveys conducted in 2008 and 2009 revealed that 1.5 percent of the population of the state was affected by AIDS. After those reports, the state health institutions started raising awareness but the disease is still spreading among adults and young.HIV AIDS Director Natalina Odarif told Voice of Hope that it was difficult to assess the exact rate of infections, as most people do not know their status.
Ms Odarif reported that the fear of being isolated from the community is the main factor preventing people from testing for HIV and AIDS.
She encouraged all to support the infected people and not to discriminate them.
Ms Odarif explained that the commission is trying to change this attitude by providing the infected people with drugs that can help them carrying a better life.
The Commission plans to conduct more sensitization campaigns to encourage the people to test for AIDS and to advise the community about prevention.
Ms Odarif urged the community not to discriminate anyone because of his or her status.
She urged the public to spread correct information about HIV and AIDS to stop its spread.