PART VII: Abstracts for oral presentations

Title: HIV⁄AIDS in the Sudan: The Way Forward

Author(s): Elbushra Herieka

Address: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, UK

Reference: First Sudanese Diaspora International Conference - 2009 pp. 211 - 211

Abstract/Summary: HIV⁄AIDS is relatively a recent disease phenomenon, recognised in 1981. It has claimed millions of lives mainly in resource limited countries. The 2007 WHO figures suggest that over 40 million people are infected with HIV, the majority of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Life expectancy for People living with HIV⁄AIDS (PLWHA) is almost normal in countries where treatment and health care is freely available, however without treatment the average time to live after diagnosis is less than 10 years. The prevalence of HIV⁄AIDS in the Sudan is estimated at 1.6% with some regions and community strata affected more than others. Of the estimated 600,000 people infected with HIV in the Sudan only 2000 are registered for care. Sudan National AIDS Programme (SNAP) affiliated to Federal Ministry of Health is the main body overseeing HIV⁄AIDS care in the country with the help of WHO and some voluntary organisations. In this paper, I will try to summarise the efforts of a group of expatriate Sudanese Clinicians to help SNAP and the WHO in facing this massive challenge. Sudan HIV⁄AIDS Working Group (SHAWG) was founded in April 2008 to channel these efforts. A review of the current systems, a workshop to educate clinicians, site visits and many meetings were held to suggest ways of improving the situation. A report "Tackling the challenge of HIV in the Sudan: the Way Forward" was released in Decemberv 2008 addressing all the issues and suggesting ways of controlling this epidemic. The UNDP through TOKTEN programme has participated greatly in this campaign.

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