South Sudan is striving to implement the 2018 peace deal addressing the 2013 and 2016 internal conflicts that devastated a country already suffering from the long struggle for independence. Floods, drought, and intra and inter-clan fighting have created displacements and famine. National health outcomes are among the worst globally, with the HIV response lagging more than a decade behind neighboring countries.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), South Sudan AIDS Commission, Global Fund, and other key partners to strengthen the health system by providing resources and technical assistance in HIV/TB treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), HIV prevention, laboratory capacity, blood safety, strategic information, epidemic response and human resources for health development.

Essential Health Services: Through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), CDC supports HIV prevention and treatment services in the highest prevalence areas of South Sudan, focusing on increasing access to quality HIV services through mentorship and supportive supervision at 64 antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites. CDC supports the largest PEPFAR direct service delivery partner to enable the MOH to achieve the Global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

Health Systems Strengthening: CDC provides extensive assistance to the MOH to strengthen the health system, including operationalizing the National Public Health Laboratory quality assurance and accreditation programs, developing guidelines and standard operating procedures for quality HIV service delivery, improving health information management systems, and supporting national priority HIV surveillance and surveys. CDC support to MOH established systems to respond to epidemics such as Ebola and COVID-19.

South-Sudan.pdf