HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support services have been introduced in all 15 states of Sudan Sudan has been combating HIV/AIDS since 1987, after the country’s first AIDS case was reported in 1986. WHO has been a key partner in this. Since July 2011, there has been a change in the classification of the national HIV epidemiological situation from being a generalized epidemic to a low epidemic.

This has presented new challenges for the Sudan National AIDS Control Programme. Focusing on prevention and the adoption of new strategies targeting priority populations and specific geographical areas requires efficient re-planning, robust capacity-building and continuous monitoring and evaluation. 

In these new challenges, WHO will continue support to Sudan National AIDS Control Programme to scale-up the national response to HIV/AIDS.

Sudan's national policy on HIV/AIDS and the national strategic plan highlight treatment, care and support as priority interventions in the national response to  the epidemic.

HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support services have been introduced in all 15 states of Sudan and efforts made to scale-up services within each state. The country adopted a policy for provision of free HIV/AIDS-related services, which has significantly improved the lives of people living with HIV.

With WHO’s support, the national programme has established 30 treatment sites and has managed to start antiretroviral treatment for 5159 patients since the beginning of the treatment programme until the end of 2011.

In the same period, a cumulative total of 157 716 people have been tested and counselled for HIV/AIDS and 9667 have received treatment and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections.

WHO reponse

WHO implements its HIV/AIDS programme in Sudan in partnership with both the governmental and nongovernmental sectors. The major implementing partners are the Sudan National AIDS Control Programme and the Directorate of Blood Transfusion Services.

The programme relies on a combination of prevention, care and support strategies. The main HIV/AIDS prevention strategies are:

• behaviour change communication
• voluntary counselling and testing
• control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• prevention of medical transmission in health-care settings. 

The HIV/AIDS care and support strategies are:

• voluntary counselling and testing
• provision of antiretroviral treatment
• treatment and prophylaxis of opportunistic infections
• home-based care.

Programme components

Blood transfusion safety

HIV surveillance

HIV testing and counselling

HIV treatment and care

Infection control

Monitoring and evaluation

STI prevention and control