Health authorities in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State say there is an increase in the recorded number of HIV/ AIDS infections as compared to past years.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal state coordinator for HIV/AIDS, Garang Kuol Mabior, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that they have recorded more than 800 people living with HIV/Aids.

“The numbers this year are much higher than last year. We have now 886 people living with HIV. These are people who are taking medication from us and they are from the five counties of Aweil West, Aweil East, Aweil Central, Aweil North and Aweil South,” he said.

Kuol noted that the most affected group is young people of between the ages of 24 and 34.

“This is a great loss for the country, since this is supposed to be the most productive population. When this group is sick, it means they cannot be productive as expected,” he added.

Kuol urged government officials, community and religious leaders to create awareness about HIV/Aids to contain its spread.