BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – “I am grateful for the meeting with His Majesty King Mswati III and his commitment to continuing the partnership with PEPFAR to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat in ESWATINI,”
These sentiments were shared by the United States of America (USA) President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Ambassador Dr John Nkengasongwho has been in the country since last Tuesday.
He further said, he was grateful to His Majesty King Mswati III for addressing HIV/AIDS among adolescent girls and young women and gender-based violence.
“I was also pleased to present His Majesty King Mswati III with two awards in honour of the Eswatini’s progress and impact,” he said.
The Ambassador while in the country, took part in a litany of activities which included the tour at The Luke Commission and officially opened the Silulu innovation centre, which showcases inspiring health solutions made possible by eMaswati and Americans working together.
“This is one more example of the many ways The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) investments are being leveraged to advance holistic operations and critical innovation,”
“We commend this and other efforts by The Luke Commission, which have supported Eswatini’s extraordinary progress in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Eswatini,” he said.
Dr John Nkengasong also held a powerful roundtable discussion with beneficiaries and representatives from Eswatini’s HIV/AIDS response community at the Manzini American Corner.
Attendees were representatives from civil society -selected in collaboration with the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO News ) as well as members of different groups of beneficiaries such as youth, adolescent girls and young women, marginalised people living with HIV and people living with disabilities.
Together they spoke about the importance of health equity; barriers to achieving equity for adolescent and young adults; the impact of GBV on adolescent girls and young women; and more.
“We applaud the gains that have been achieved by Eswatini in the fight against HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR’s support, but these gains are being eroded by the prevalence of sexual abuse, inconsistent condom use, intergenerational sexual relations, and religious beliefs that has resulted in some people to default on their treatment,” said Director of Eswatini Action Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Director Nonhlanhla Dlamini.
Among the many activities, The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Ambassador Dr John Nkengasong, accompanied by the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi , visited the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, a high- volume Eswatini Government supported , faith- based health facility located in Manzini. Given its strategic geographic location, RFM plays a vital role as a key national hub for comprehensive clinical services provision and disease surveillance.
