BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE – Eswatini seems to be winning the battle against HIV/AIDS.
New data revealed by the United States Ambassador Jeanne Maloney today at the Mountain Inn in Mbabane reveal that there is substantial improvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Eswatini.
The ambassador revealed that the PEPFAR SHIMS 3 survey data reported cascade results were at 94-97-96.
PEPFAR is the acronym for President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief.
“This means that 94 per cent of all EmaSwati know their HIV status, and of those, 97 per cent are on treatment (ART), and of those, 96 per cent are virally suppressed (meaning the treatment is working). This is a remarkable achievement, especially in the midst of COVID 19,” said Maloney.
In her remarks, Maloney said she was honoured to celebrate the tremendous achievements the Kingdom of Eswatini has made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is to have surpassed the UNAIDS Fast-track Targets for treatment and viral suppression, even in the midst of multiple and overlapping crises.
“Over the last several decades, we have witnessed the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the country. The social and economic toll has been tragically high, causing great personal loss and suffering. Over 17 years ago, when the U.S. Government, through PEPFAR, began its partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to combat HIV/AIDS.
“It was estimated that there were 160 000 people living with HIV, yet fewer than 500 of them – less than 1% – were on antiretroviral therapy. The life expectancy in the country had plummeted to 42 years. And over 3 300 infants were being born with HIV each year.
“The SHIMS1 and SHIMS2 surveys, conducted in 2010 and 2016, respectively, measured important milestones in Eswatini’s journey towards controlling the epidemic. Today, as the SHIMS3 cascade results mark another milestone in this journey, we stand here bearing witness to the remarkable power in uniting toward a common goal, the power of partnerships, the effective use of evidence-based tools, and the result of having the courage to take action even against the backdrop of one of the most severe epidemics in the world,” said the U.S Ambassador.
“This is truly a moment of celebration, and the U.S. Government, through PEPFAR, is proud to be a financial and technical partner in this response” she said.
