The World AIDS Day is observed every December 1 across the globe to remember those who lost their lives to the disease and show solidarity and support for people living with and affected by HIV. 

The theme for the 2024 World AIDS Day–“Take the Rights Path”, points to the need to eliminate norms, laws, policies and practices that punish, stigmatize, discriminate, affect rights and limit access to essential HIV services to sections of the population. It calls for an inclusive and rights-based approach in the HIV response and the need to promote health for all by protecting everyone’s rights.

Central to this theme is a recognition that ending AIDS requires that we reach and engage everyone who is living with, at risk of or affected by HIV–including key and vulnerable populations who are often excluded, marginalized and are affected by punitive legal and policy barriers that affect human rights and limit access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. This is because harsh norms, practices and legal prohibitions force many people to go hiding, thus making it difficult to reach them with HIV services.

Removing social and legal barriers and protecting human rights is key to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. As we commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day, let us all work towards ensuring that HIV programs and services are accessible to all people who need them. 

Under the auspices of the UNDP–Global Fund Programme, the South Sudan AIDS Commission takes the lead in redressing the norms and practices, policy and legal barriers to the provision of HIV services to key and vulnerable populations. I salute the South Sudan AIDS Commission and a network of civil society organizations for the relentless work in increasing awareness, overcoming bottlenecks and creating the space for the provision of HIV and health services. 

Important strides have been attained including high-level, targeted advocacy and sensitization targeting political leadership, policymakers, legislators, law enforcement, community, and religious leaders on curbing stigma and discrimination and training healthcare providers in stigma-free care and human rights. The South Sudan AIDS Commission is currently updating the legal literacy training manual and developing an Access to Justice Manual for legal service providers to further protect the rights of people living with HIV, and key and vulnerable populations.  Ultimately, this seeks to increase access to legal services, prevent and challenge human rights violations, ensure that all people benefit from HIV services and reduce the risk of HIV infections.

Presently, a total of 245 hospitals and other health facilities across the country offer HIV and TB services through the UNDP-Global Fund programme, including health facilities in prisons, Internally Displaced People (IDP) and refugee camps. The estimated number of people living with HIV is 140,000 of which only half - 72,670 are diagnosed and on treatment. On the other hand, 8,100 new HIV infections were recorded in 2023 representing 675 infections per month while 5,657 HIV-AIDS related deaths were recorded in 2023 which represents 471 deaths per month. 

Together we can end AIDS if everyone’s rights are protected.