The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan commemorated and celebrated World AIDS Day on December 1, 2021, with a range of activities in Juba. Haven Cruz-Hubbard, the Acting Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., (CDA), highlighted the important work of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in South Sudan at a World AIDS Day event arranged by the Government of South Sudan in coordination with local and international partners.
Dr. Harriet Akello Pasquale, the HIV/AIDS Program Director from the South Sudanese Ministry of Health, teamed up with USAID’s Health Office Director and the Country Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — who joined virtually from Atlanta — for two live radio programs. A prominent local newspaper published an article by David Renz, U.S. CDA, in which he underscored the U.S. commitment to work jointly with South Sudan and other partners to confront this health challenge. Embassy officials also led a discussion at the American Corner at the University of Juba, amplifying this year’s theme of “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.”