The Guardian (London) (04.12.12) - Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Swaziland's HIV rate is the world's highest. More than one-
fourth of adults are HIV-positive, and approximately half of
the deaths of children under five are virus-related. And,
despite governmental efforts, Swazis' grasp of HIV/AIDS
information remains poor.
Cultural mores concerning sexuality worsen matters. According
to a spokesman for the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic
Organizations, "When a western [non-governmental organization]
puts out a message about condoms, someone turns up on radio
... and says, 'Don't be silly, our job is to produce
children.'"
Although a campaign encouraging adult male circumcision -
funded by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -
fell short of its target, the promotion of infant male
circumcision is faring better. Seventy-eight percent of those
needing antiretrovirals (ARVs) are now covered, and testing
can be conducted domestically.
However, economic crises threaten those gains. A 2011 UN study
of 1,334 households notes that one-fourth were negatively
impacted by factors including rising food costs and loss of
employment. The study also reported households with HIV-
positive mothers relied on cheaper food and missed meals.
Ncamsile Mkhwanazi, staff nurse at a clinic in the Gilgal
village, said the clinic sees approximately 100 patients
weekly, many with HIV. Most patients are women; men are
reluctant to be tested.
"HIV medication is getting better because we have drugs, but
the people are not using protection, so they are spreading the
virus," said Mkhwanazi. She said the message of the
circumcision drive was unclear, leading men to believe the
procedure prevented, rather than reduced, the risk of female-
to-male transmission. Mkwhanazi credits ARVs for lowering
death rates, but says food, ARVs, and other medicine stocks
are running low.