According to the
national survey conducted by the Sudan
National AIDS Programme (SNAP) in
2002, Sudan is the most severely affected
country in North Africa and the Middle
East with an estimated 500,000 people
living with HIV/AIDS, and mostly in
need of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Despite the fact that the epidemiological
data is limited, it is believed that
the country is in the early stages
of a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic,
with an almost exclusively heterosexual
transmission pattern. The adult prevalence
rate of HIV has been estimated at
1.6%, with specific population group
prevalence rates ranging from 0.5%
to 2.5% in the northern part of the
country.
The 2002 survey showed a low awareness
of HIV/AIDS, with only 53% of the
population being aware of the sexual
transmission risk of HIV/AIDS, and
a total of 640,000 individuals being
infected with HIV. It has been reported
that 0.5% limited sentinel surveillance
testing during 2004 yielded prevalence
rates of 0.95% (18/1900) among pregnant
women, 1.9% (9/465) among symptomatic
sexually transmitted disease (STD)
infected patients, and 2.3% (33/1436)
among TB patients. False beliefs about
HIV/AIDS transmission were common,
as were indicators of strong stigma.
In fact 44% of respondents said that
they would not share a meal with an
infected individual, 31% would not
nurse a patient, and 30% would not
allow an infected child or teacher
to attend school.
To address this situation, in January
2007 UNDP launched a project called:
Scaling-up the National Response for
Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS
in Sudan, with the support of the
Global Fund to Fights AIDS, TB and
Malaria
(GFATM).
Objectives
The project’s main objective
is to reduce the HIV/AIDS transmission
and mortality rate in Sudan.
With this in mind, the project’s
specific objectives are as follows:
• Enhance and reduce risk behaviour
through raising awareness on HIV/AIDS
and other STDs amongst the general
population, and vulnerable and high
risk groups in all states.
• Ensure quality Voluntary,
Confidential Counseling and Testing
(VCCT) services are available and
utilized in all states.
• Ensure access to condoms through
free distribution and social marketing
outlets in target communities.
• Establish a system of non-remunerated
voluntary blood donors (NRVBD), to
gradually replace the existing higher-risk
replacement family donation. Six regional
blood banks will be established along
with the formation of six mobile blood
collection teams.
• Ensure people living with
HIV/AIDS receive care and support
and a targeted 40,000 will have begun
receiving Antiretroviral Treatment,
by 2012.
Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• A total of 267,155 of general
population were reached by GF supported
outreach activities.
• A total of 1,840,410 from
vulnerable groups reached by community
outreach activities.
• A total of 99,323 young people
exposed to HIV/AIDS education in out
of school setting.
• 123 service delivery points
provided counseling and testing in
accordance with the determined minimum
standards.
• 38,146 individuals completed
the testing and counseling process
.
• A total of 6, 493 pregnant
women completed the counseling and
testing process with Global Fund resources.
• 1,840,410 condoms distributed
for free with Global Fund resources.
• 2,003,424 social marketing
condoms sold using Global Fund resources.
• 21,633 blood units transfused
in government hospitals which were
collected from voluntary non-remunerated
blood donors.
• 37 service delivery points
providing Anti Retroviral (ARV) combination
therapy were supported by the UNDP
Global Fund this year.
• 2,443 individuals with advanced
HIV infection received ARV combination
therapy.
• 3772 people with HIV infection
received diagnosis and treatment for
opportunistic infections with Global
Fund support.
• The UNDP Global Fund in 2008
supported 12 service delivery points
run by People Living with HIV/AIDS
Association for the chronically ill
and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
• The UNDP Global Fund supported
the Sudanese People Living With HIV/AIDS
Association which was awarded the
Red Ribbon Award at the Toronto World
AIDS Conference
• 289 patients were reached
by home based care including ART adherence
support.
• 37 treatment sites reporting
no stock out of ARVs and selected
diagnostic/treatment.
• The first religious leaders’
forum in Sudan brought together approximately
100 Christian and Muslim religious
leaders to discuss their role in the
national HIV/AIDS response (Khartoum,
November 2006). The forum was organized
by SNAP in collaboration with the
Ministry of Guidance and Endowment.
UNDP supported provided technical
and financial support for the forum.
• The Ministry of Guidance and
Endowment, committed itself to establishing
an AIDS Council in the Ministry with
the mandate to build the capacity
of religious leaders to effectively
contribute to the HIV/AIDS response
in Sudan.
