Today is World AIDS Day, and the people of Gambella have turned out in large numbers to raise awareness and confront a pandemic that has taken many lives and left countless children orphaned.
HIV has long been a public health challeng
World Aids day Awareness Campaign
e in Ethiopia, but in Gambella the situation has reached an alarming stage. It is believed awareness campaigns like this and acknowledgement of the fact that the disease is real and deadly may help the population in looking after themselves.
In recent years, local health workers and community leaders have raised repeated concerns as the number of HIV cases continues to rise at a rate that many describe as “the next level.” This surge has created fear, confusion, and worry among the Gambella Population who are already struggling with social, economic, and security pressures.
Gambella’s exposure to movement across borders, displacement, and limited access to healthcare has made the region particularly vulnerable.
Many areas still lack adequate awareness programs, proper testing services, and consistent access to antiretroviral treatment. As a result, new infections continue to climb, especially among young people and vulnerable communities who have little access to accurate health information.
Protection remains a major challenge. While health professionals encourage regular testing, safe sex practices, and community education, these messages don’t always reach the people who need them the most.
Poverty, limited education, and cultural barriers often stand in the way. In many cases, individuals fear going for testing because they worry about being seen at the clinic or being judged by neighbours. This leads to one of the most painful aspects of HIV in Gambella:
Stigma.
People living with HIV often face silent discrimination, whispered conversations, and social isolation. Instead of finding support, many find themselves blamed or shamed, which pushes them further away from treatment and care.
Families sometimes hide the condition of their loved ones, not because they don’t care, but because they are afraid of what society might say. This culture of silence allows the virus to spread even more.
Emotionally, the impact is heavy. Many residents say they feel unsafe, anxious, and uncertain about the future as they hear news of rising HIV cases. Young people fear the risks around them, parents worry for their children, and entire communities feel the weight of a growing health crisis. It is a reality that touches almost every home in one way or another.
But Gambella is not without hope. With stronger community education, open conversations, improved testing centres, and campaigns that fight stigma rather than people, change is possible. Protecting oneself and others requires courage, knowledge, and compassion.
HIV is not a curse or a moral judgment, it is a medical condition that can be prevented, treated, and managed when society stands together. For Gambella to overcome this crisis, the region must commit to awareness, protection, and dignity for all.
The rising numbers are a warning, but they can also be a turning point if leaders, families, and communities choose to confront the disease openly and support one another. The fight against HIV is not only medical, but also social, emotional, and deeply human.
This article was written by Pam Chuol Joack, a Gambella Vision Contributor. He can be reached at pc*******@*************on.net
