Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Sudan's 22-year civil war displaced more than four million people - the highest number of internally displaced people in the world - but it also guarded the region against the spread of Aids. That isolation is over and the impoverished inhabitants face a new and previously unknown killer.
Conflict has left southern Sudan particularly vulnerable to HIV - a virus that experts say has infected more than 40 million people in more than 90 countries - including about 25 million people in Africa. The rapid increase in traffic of military personnel, commercial transporters, sex workers, and influx of international workers is putting the whole of southern Sudan at risk.
Left: A local police man is in charge of monthly drug distribution in the town of Merikyo, and is seen here giving antibiotics to an elderly patient. A health worker visits the region once a month.
1/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Healthworkers see patients at their monthly visit to Merikyo town. There is virtually no primary healthcare system throughout South Sudan, and therefore no means of monitoring, or stemming, HIV infection.
2/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
A local policemen distributes drugs in a make shift dispensary in Merikyo town. There is virtually no primary health care system in South Sudan, making the spread of HIV almost impossible to monitor or prevent.
3/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
A family who has been displaced by tribal clashes in Pinga - a town of around 3000 people in Western Equatoira - and travelled three days by foot to Merikyo town. They have never heard of HIV before and don't believe that anyone in their village has ever died from the symptoms described.
4/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
An evangelical Preacher speaks to a crowd of thousands of people in Juba town at sunset. Since the signing of the Peace Agreement religious fervor has gripped the region and many Churches, preach against the use of any form of contraception, including the use of condoms.
5/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Soldiers guard the body of General Garang the leader of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) who died in a helicopter crash shortly after the signing of the peace agreement between the North and South of Sudan after 22 years of civil war. Garang was the leader revered for brokering the agreement and winning the war for the people of South Sudan.
6/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
A negative HIV test in the VCT centre in Juba which is the only VCT centre throughout the whole of South Sudan. Juba has a population of 350,000 which is growing daily with refugees returning but so far only 951 people have been tested with 197 (20.1%) being positive.
7/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
A woman waits for her HIV test results in the only VCT center in South Sudan.
8/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Kusanza has TB, but was unable to afford to finish her course of treatment. Her husband has thrown her out of his house because he has taken another wife, and the nurse treating Kusanzas suspects she has HIV but does not have the means to test her.
9/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Kusanza lies in the infectious disease unit of Juba hospital receiving a blood transfusion, but it came too late and she died that night. Her husband refused to allow her to be tested for HIV.
10/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Kusanza's body is bought back to lie in her village before burial and here is surrounded by family members.
11/12
Southern Sudan I, The Seeds of HIV
November 2005
Kusanza body is shrouded by a member of her family before burial.
12/12
