Global HIV/AIDS

Swaziland

HIV/AIDS in Swaziland

25.9% Estimated Prevalence
(Age 15–49) (2009)
7,000 Estimated Deaths
69,000 Estimated Orphans
47,241 Reported Number of People Receiving ART
80,000 Estimated Number of People Needing ART

SOURCE:
UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, November 2010

HIV/AIDS Assets and Strategic Focus

Strategic Focus
CDC began supporting Swaziland in 2004 and opened the HIV/AIDS office in 2007. CDC works closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH), World Health Organization, and other partners in building local health systems for a sustained response to the epidemic.

Strengthening Health Systems
CDC supports the MoH and implementing partners in building the capacity to improve coverage and the quality of HIV care and treatment services. This includes provision of clinical care, mentoring, laboratory services, country-wide provider and client-initiated HIV testing and counseling services, and blood safety programming.

Strengthening Surveillance and Health Information Systems
CDC supports the MoH in the development of innovative systems to improve the collection and utilization of data to guide strategic decision making. This includes a first of its kind national HIV incidence measurement survey and operational research to improve the linkage of newly HIV-diagnosed persons to HIV C&T services.

Notable Accomplishments

Care and Treatment Services

Through its cooperative agreement with the MoH, CDC assists in capacity building to plan and implement high quality decentralized HIV C&T services. Swaziland’s treatment coverage is approximately 64%, one of the highest rates in the region.

Prevention Services

CDC has worked to increase access to a basic comprehensive preventative care package for all persons living with HIV/AIDS which includes: screening and referrals for TB services, the promotion of good hygiene, safe drinking water, good nutritional practices, and abstinence and be faithful messaging.

Capacity Building

CDC has a long-standing partnership with the MoH, WHO, and others to expand both facility-based (provider–initiated) and community–based HIV testing and counseling services throughout the country. CDC is also the MoH’s primary partner in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance systems for Soka Uncobe (“circumcise and conquer”), Swaziland’s country-wide campaign to provide safe medical circumcision services to 80 percent of men age 15-49.