Background

Decades of civil war and limited epidemiological data make it difficult to clearly assess the status of HIV/AIDS in Sudan. However it is generally agreed that the country is in the early stages of a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic, with an almost exclusively heterosexual transmission pattern. The most reliable, available indication of the extent of the epidemic is from the 2002 Situation Analysis Study conducted in the government-controlled parts of the country: 11 out of 16 states in the north and 3 in the south. The study yielded HIV/AIDS prevalence rates ranging from 0.5% for soldiers, 1% for antenatal care attendees, truck drivers, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), 2.5% among female tea sellers, to 4.4% among female sex workers. More recently, results of limited sentinel surveillance testing, conducted during 2004 by the Sudan National AIDS Control Programme, yielded prevalence rates of 0.95% (18/1900) among pregnant women, 1.9% (9/465) among symptomatic Sexually Transmitted Diseases’ patients (STDs), and 2.3% (33/1436) among Tuberculosis patients.

With the support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), the National HIV/AIDS Awareness project was launched in June 2006.

Objectives
To enhance the overall awareness of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

The specific objectives are as follows:
• Reduce the risk behaviour in all states.
• Increase HIV/AIDS awareness and mitigate stigma and discrimination through religious leaders who are able to influence people’s social norms and values.

Snapshots of the project's major achievements
• 125 Hakamas were trained on peace education, human rights DDR gender-based violence and HIV prevention.
• 50 Hakamas provided with livelihood support in the form of small livestock (goats) & trained in methods of increasing livestock's productivity.
• 35 community facilitators based in eight localities of Port Sudan were trained on the Behavior Change Communications skills in order to enable them implement the planned awareness raising activities in the recipient communities.
• UNDP supported NSDDRC to take the initiative in coordinating the HIV/AIDS response in South Kordofan state.
• UNDP in collaboration with North Sudan Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration Commission has trained 35 police and national security personnel in South Korodfan.
• The formation of two NGO networks on gender & HIV/AIDS were announced in South Kordofan this year.
• 30 uniform services personnel; police, border police, community security forces, military leaders linked to DDR activities , in Red Sea state were trained on responding to issues of vulnerability in emergency situations and developing interventions measures during the demobilization and reintegration phases.
• 45 uniform services personnel; police, border police, community security forces, military leaders & 20 demobilized soldiers in Kassala state were trained on responding to issues of vulnerability in emergency situations and developing intervention measures during the demobilization and reintegration phases.