News From Washington

The US Government's Response to Swaziland's HIV & AIDS Epidemic - 2005

Introduction

      At 42.6% Swaziland has the world’s highest human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immuno-deficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) prevalence rate. An estimated 200,000 Swazis are believed to be HIV positive out of a population of only 1 million, and the death toll from AIDS now reaches about 20,000 annually. The country already has the tragic statistic of 70,000 AIDS orphans and projections reveal that the number will reach 120,000 by 2010. In spite of this grim reality, there is hope in the concerted efforts of local and international partners who are working tirelessly to turn the tide against the pandemic.

      The Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland established the National Emergency Response Committee for HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) to fight the pandemic.  Read more on Swaziland’s efforts on www.nercha.org.sz

      United States Government funding of HIV/AIDS programs in Swaziland is over E193 million ($32 million), including the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and bilateral funding which has recently doubled to $6.5 million.
To date, the U.S. Government has contributed nearly two-thirds of all funds to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria. More details about the Global Fund’s funding process are available on www.theglobalfund.org

      The U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting efforts against the pandemic in Swaziland is evidenced by the active participation of the following USG agencies: the United States Agency for International Development Regional HIV/AIDS Program (USAID/RHAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Labor, African Development Foundation, the United States Peace Corps, the U.S. Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) and the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section. 

      USAID’s Regional HIV/AIDS Program (RHAP), based in Pretoria, South Africa, funds various initiatives which are implemented by non-government organizations (NGOs), including community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs).  These projects include the following:

-PACT will disburse close to $700,000 in funding from RHAP for skills and capacity building workshops for local faith-based organizations (FBOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and supporting the Swaziland Government. Support will include the technical areas of palliative care, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), prevention, and community preparedness for anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy.

-RHAP is also funding a Prevention of Mother-to-Child transmission (PMTCT) program that is being implemented by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. The initiative valued at $650,000 will assist the government of Swaziland to meet their PMTCT targets by supporting and expanding the delivery of quality PMTCT services, integrating PMTCT services in clinic and hospital antenatal care, and introducing expanded programs for associated care and support services that target families and communities.  Details of EGPAF’s PMTCT programs are available on their website at www.pedaids.org

-Empirical surveys have found that transmission of HIV is especially high in cross-border areas that have high mobility among truck drivers, migrant laborers and commercial sex workers.  Population Services International (PSI) and FHI collaborate on the Corridors of Hope project with the Family Life Association of Swaziland who implement interpersonal communication activities in the project sites of Ngwenya, Lavumisa and Lomahasha. PSI promotes condoms through social marketing, production of dissemination of IEC materials and mass media, and free condom distribution at high-risk areas. FHI provides support for community based peer education. Learn more about RHAP projects in Swaziland by visiting www.rhap.org.za 

-The African Development Foundation (ADF) and the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) are cooperating in a mutual effort to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS and promote the economic empowerment of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. The goal of the program is to improve the well-being of people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS in Swaziland by achieving improved agricultural production, increased access to micro-credit and business training, and sustainable community-level micro and small-scale enterprises.

-The International Labor Organization/U.S. Department of Labor’s International HIV/AIDS Workplace Education Program together with the Ministry of Labor aim to contribute to the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the world of work, the enhancement of workplace protection and the reduction of its adverse consequences on social, labor and economic development thereby reducing HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among workers and reducing the level of employment-related discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS. This three-year program, which started in 2004, will cover South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.

-The NGO “Policy Project” is providing technical assistance in the planning and implementation of the U.S. Ambassador’s Initiative Program and works with the SADC in an effort to improve HIV/AIDS policies in the region. Policy supports and provides assistance in regional policy activities, networking and information sharing, and improved consistency and comparability of data.

-“Measure DHS” provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to conduct a demographic and health survey (DHS). The survey provides policy makers, planners and researchers with data on population, health and nutrition characteristics in Swaziland.

-The Human Capacity Development Project (HCDP) together with IntraHealth International aims to improve human capacity to implement quality health programs. HCDP focuses on developing the capacity of in-country organizations and institutions to assume responsibility for improved workforce planning, allocation and utilization; improved health worker skills; and strengthened systems for sustained health worker performance on the job.

-Through CDC, PSI is supporting the development of 2 free-standing VCT centers in rural areas in Swaziland that will include voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) outreach. PSI provides financial and technical assistance to NERCHA and American Federation of Teachers. Additional areas of support include technical and financial assistance to developing faith-based HIV prevention and education activities and workplace policies.

-The U.S. Ambassador’s Girls Scholarship Program is a White House initiative funded by USAID. The program began in 2000 and has committed this year $210,000 towards the provision of basic and quality education for 1000 girls in Swaziland. The program targets girls who are orphaned, living with HIV/AIDS or living under abusive situations sexually, physically and emotionally.

-The U.S. Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) has assisted the Swaziland Defense Force in the formulation and implementation of a Workplace HIV/AIDS program. With this assistance, the Swazi military has established a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) facility where soldiers and members of the public can take an HIV test and receive counseling. It also serves as a referral site for Army personnel to enroll in the country’s Anti-Retroviral Therapy rollout program. Further funding for FY05 amounting to $225,000 will be sustaining the VCT, ARV, and other HIV/AIDS-related services for the Swaziland Defense Force.

-The World Bank with sizeable funding from USAID/RHAP has awarded grants amounting collectively to $110,000 to a variety of Swazi NGOs that succeeded in conceptualizing innovative proposals for projects aimed at combating HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. These organizations range from Non-Governmental, Community and Faith-Based Organization to the Business Coalition Against HIV and AIDS. To find out more about the Development Marketplace visit the World Bank South Africa office website on: www.worldbank.org/afr/za

-Through the U.S. Embassy’s International Visitor Exchange program American and Swazi experts are participating in a variety of workshops in Swaziland and the U.S. respectively, for fighting HIV/AIDS. These have added great value to the battle against HIV/AIDS by way of highly informative workshops conducted by U.S. specialists to diverse Swazi audiences, and have empowered Swazis working in the field who visit the United States and return armed with fresh ideas and knowledge that can be adapted to the country’s programs.

-The U.S. Peace Corps Program provides assistance in the implementation of the national HIV/AIDS strategy. Most volunteers are assisting teachers in the local schools in designing HIV/AIDS and Life Skills curriculum; educating communities about HIV/AIDS at all gatherings; initiating and establishing youth groups in the communities; rehabilitating water systems and developing and strengthening Neighborhood Care Points for children whose parents have died of AIDS.