STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER, MR AMBROSE MANDVULO DLAMINI ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE WORLD AIDS DAY 2019

The Kingdom of Eswatini joins the rest of the world today to commemorate the World AIDS Day. It is encouraging to observe that the country is steadily gaining control over the HIV epidemic. As we reflect and reaffirm our determination to work together in the fight against HIV, let us all commit to achieving the national goal of ending AIDS as public health threat by 2022. 

The theme for World AIDS Day this year is “Communities make the difference” and it recognizes the benefits of working together as different communities to succeed in achieving a common goal.  At the peak of the HIV epidemic, it was the communities who organized themselves to provide home based care for the sick, provided psycho-social support to grieving children who had lost their parents and played an oversight role over child-headed homes. Communities united to provide food security for the vulnerable through the Indlunkhulu project among many others efforts. This is how we sailed through the most difficult times in the HIV response.

As we accelerate towards ending AIDS, we take lessons from the past that communities do make a difference. Let communities unite and engage in the last push towards ending AIDS as a public health threat in the Kingdom.  In the different communities that we belong to, let us encourage each other to test, know our status and access the HIV prevention services that have been availed to all. If someone has tested HIV positive, let us support them to enroll and adhere to treatment. Let us do away with all forms of stigma and discrimination as it will only retard our efforts.  As the Government of Eswatini we are committed to supporting all efforts to meet our national goal.

I humbly thank His Majesty King Mswati III and The Queen Mother Indlovukazi for their wise leadership and commitment to the HIV response.  My sincere appreciation also goes to our partners for the financial and technical support they have given to the Kingdom of Eswatini that has enabled us to realise numerous victories in the fight against HIV. The battle has not yet been won and we should all unite to emerge victorious. HIV yindzaba yetfu sonkhe.

Thank you.