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Background
Decades of civil war and limited epidemiological
data make it difficult to clearly assess
the status of HIV/AIDS in Sudan. However
it is generally agreed that the country
is in the early stages of a generalized
HIV/AIDS epidemic, with an almost exclusively
heterosexual transmission pattern. The
most reliable, available indication
of the extent of the epidemic is from
the 2002 Situation Analysis Study conducted
in the government-controlled parts of
the country: 11 out of 16 states in
the north and 3 in the south. The study
yielded HIV/AIDS prevalence rates ranging
from 0.5% for soldiers, 1% for antenatal
care attendees, truck drivers, and Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs), 2.5% among
female tea sellers, to 4.4% among female
sex workers. More recently, results
of limited sentinel surveillance testing,
conducted during 2004 by the Sudan National
AIDS Control Programme, yielded prevalence
rates of 0.95% (18/1900) among pregnant
women, 1.9% (9/465) among symptomatic
Sexually Transmitted Diseases’
patients (STDs), and 2.3% (33/1436)
among Tuberculosis patients.
With the support of the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
(GFATM),
the National HIV/AIDS Awareness project
was launched in June 2006.
Objectives
To enhance the overall awareness of
HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted
Diseases.
The specific objectives are as follows:
• Reduce the risk behaviour in
all states.
• Increase HIV/AIDS awareness
and mitigate stigma and discrimination
through religious leaders who are able
to influence people’s social norms
and values.
Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• Helped organize the first forum
in Sudan that brought together approximately
100 Christian and Muslim religious leaders
to discuss their role in fighting HIV/AIDS
(Khartoum, November 2006). The forum
was organized by SNAP in collaboration
with the Ministry of Guidance and Endowment.
UNDP emphasized the importance of the
national leadership in HIV/AIDS response
and provided both technical and financial
support for the forum.
• As a demonstration of commitment
to the forum’s goals, the Ministry
of Guidance and Endowment, responsible
for religious affairs, committed itself
to establishing an AIDS Council in the
Ministry with the mandate to build the
capacity of the religious leaders to
effectively contribute to the HIV/AIDS
response in Sudan.
• Supported the association “Sudanese
People Living with AIDS in combating
HIV/AIDS”. The Sudanese association
was awarded the Red Ribbon Award at
the Toronto World AIDS Conference.
• Financially supported the Care
Association for networking, information
communication and pamphlet development
that helps people living with AIDS.
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