Health Minister Joins Africa Wide Push to Eliminate HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis

(KAMPALA) – South Sudan’s Minister of Health, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, is participating in the Africa Triple Elimination Conference 2025, a high level continental gathering focused on eliminating HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis by the year 2030. The three day conference is taking place in Kampala, Uganda, from 21st to 23rd July 2025.

Held under the theme “Unifying Action, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030,” the event has drawn together senior government officials, health experts, civil society actors, development partners and community leaders from across Africa. It is aimed at advancing coordinated strategies to eradicate the three diseases, which continue to impact millions across the continent.

Cleto’s participation underlines South Sudan’s commitment to regional health cooperation and to strengthening national health systems to reduce the burden of preventable diseases. While South Sudan continues to face challenges in its health sector, particularly in remote and conflict affected areas, the country has made notable progress in HIV treatment coverage and awareness campaigns.

Key objectives of the Kampala conference include boosting partnerships between governments, international organisations, private sector stakeholders and civil society to ensure a united response to the diseases. Participants are expected to map out strategies for improving diagnostics, treatment access and public health education, while also addressing cross border health threats.

A significant portion of the conference is dedicated to tackling funding challenges that threaten progress towards the 2030 targets. The event is expected to generate new commitments from donors, philanthropic bodies and governments, with a strong emphasis on sustainable domestic resource mobilisation to complement international aid.

The discussions are focused on bridging existing funding gaps, increasing national investment in disease control and developing long term financial strategies that ensure uninterrupted access to health services. For countries like South Sudan, where external funding plays a major role in healthcare delivery, securing sustainable financing mechanisms remains critical.

The Kampala event is being jointly organised by the African Union Commission, the Uganda Ministry of Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS and several other partners.

Participating countries are expected to release a joint communiqué outlining concrete commitments and steps to accelerate the elimination agenda after the conference concludes on 23rd July.