South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Resilience Organization, a youth-led initiative, in collaboration with Shabab Le Shabab and others, has intensified campaigns to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and Hepatitis B.
Kevin Abalo, the Executive Director of the Resilience Organization, said that the campaign aims to raise awareness about the prevention of rapidly spreading STIs such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis, among others.
“We are here for testing and counselling, as well as to provide other services. We offer free testing for HIV, Hepatitis B, and other STIs. Many people are expected to join us to learn their status,” said Abalo during an interview on Thursday at Gumbo Basic Primary School.
“We had previously conducted this campaign at the community level, performing outreach activities in various residential areas within Juba. Many residents are unaware that free testing and counselling are available, and stigma and discrimination remain prevalent in the community,” she added.
Mary Federiko Loro, a teacher at the Rejaf Centre for the Blind, emphasised the need to include people with disabilities in discussions about access to health services and prevention measures against STIs.
“People with disabilities are often overlooked. The government and its partners must be inclusive, as these individuals are also affected by diseases such as HIV, and they require protection from communicable diseases,” stated Loro.
William Garang Bol, a chief in the Gumbo Shirikat residential area, remarked that organisations working in health must collaborate with local authorities to ensure that services reach the people.
“We, the people of Gumbo Shirikat, are very pleased to have health services brought closer to us. The health of the community is crucial, and local organisations must work closely with local authorities to ensure that people are protected,” said Bol.
Owar Mark Ugude, a member of the National Youth Council and Chairperson for Pari Youth in Juba, noted that the programme provides a platform for young people to learn about their health status.
“It is essential for youth to come together and take the lead in sensitising our peers. By creating awareness, we are preparing for the future, as the future of this country lies with its young people,” said Ugude.
Ugude revealed that the programme will also involve distributing condoms to young people to prevent unprotected sex, highlighting the availability of free testing for Hepatitis B, which is also widespread.
“We cannot assume that the prevalence of HIV is limited to Juba; there are also individuals infected in rural areas. Therefore, we need to extend these services to rural communities as well,” he added.
This campaign, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will run for three months and is being implemented by the Resilience Organization, a national youth-led initiative.
