Polygamy has been identified as one of the contributing factors to the spread of HIV/AIDs in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State.

The County AIDs Coordinator, Chris Issa Gordon, said having multiple partners based on tradition is a practice that is proving difficult to stop.

“There is a number of multiple partner sexual relations or polygamy in place, it is very common in our communities….these factors fuel the spread of this disease within Yei River County,” he said.

‘Fear of HIV status’

Mr Issa said people living with HIV/AIDS in the county are stigmatized and discriminated.

“Even those who test positive fear to access HIV services because of the fear of the status,” he stressed.

“And this has a negative because all these people go back to the community and they still interact with people; so there is a possibility of those already positive still engaging in risky behaviors with those who are unaware.”

Mr. Issa said they have recorded over 2,000 HIV positive cases in Yei in the last two months.

He called on the Ministry of Health and medical organizations to come up with HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in the county.