Soldiers express concern about HIV status

Members of the organized forces who are HIV positive have told Eye Radio that treatment can be extremely difficult.

Cases of HIV AIDS among the organized forces are very high in South Sudan and some SPLA soldiers currently in Juba Military Hospital claim that other soldiers have committed suicide because of their frustrations.

“Some of them took a gun and shot themselves; all of them shot themselves because when they report about their health and want time out, they are put in prison,” a solider “A” said on Eye Radio on the  condition of anonymity. “Then they think since they got the virus in the army and they don’t have children, then with the bitterness they take their own lives.”

The men say that it is increasingly difficult to serve and be HIV+.

“At work in the army, we are not given a chance to do other things. Sometimes you find out you’re HIV positive and you are still told to go to the front, like now over the operation against (David) Yau Yau,” solider “B” told Eye Radio on condition of anonymity. “You will not get the drugs in the battle field, and for you to get permission to come and get  the drugs in Juba or where your file is, becomes difficult. This is what we face in the army.”

“If you refuse to go to the front line, you will be put into prison,” said soldier “A”. “If the force which is going to the front line is to stay there for six months, you will remain in the prison for six month with all the sickness.” The soldiers who were with me, some of them have died already, I am the only one remaining.

However, SPLA spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer denied that soldiers are forced to go to the front line.

“If somebody is diagnosed to be seriously ill, then definitely the command will not take a weak soldier to the front line, because operation itself needs a level of physical fitness,” he told Eye Radio. So those people who are saying they were ordered to go to the frontline even though they are sick; I think it is because they might have failed to show the evidence of their sickness”.

Access to HIV/AIDS drugs in South Sudan is usually made possible through the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.