Country Situation Analysis

UN Support to the National Response

Contacts

UNAIDS Global Report 2006 Data

Country Situation Analysis

Swaziland has responded to HIV by putting in place a series of coordinating systems, firstly, with the establishment of the National AIDS Prevention and Control Programme (NAPCP) within the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and then with the Swaziland National AIDS Programme (SNAP). In 1999, His Majesty King Mswati III declared HIV and AIDS a national disaster. Following this, two new committees, the cabinet committee on HIV and AIDS and the Crisis Management and Technical Committee were created and launched. In September 2000 the CMTC developed the 2000–2005 National Strategic Plan that was approved by the Cabinet. In 2001, the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) was established under the Prime Minister’s Office with a broad-based mandate to coordinate the national multisectoral response to the epidemic.

Coordinating mechanisms set up by nongovernmental organizations, churches, the private sector, government, people living with HIV and partnership forums play a critical role in bringing together their constituencies to provide a coordinated response to HIV and AIDS. A Joint Review of the First National Strategic Plan was completed in March 2005 and the Second Multisectoral National Strategic Plan 2006–2008 and Action Plan and National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Policy were developed through a consultative process.

Women, children, the elderly and the disabled are being adversely affected by the epidemic. Women are bearing the brunt of the epidemic, as they mostly provide care to people living with HIV. Elderly persons are affected by the epidemic due to the premature death of their children who leave them without adequate resources to raise their grandchildren. The increased demand for care and support due to HIV has affected the provision of care and support for people with disabilities. The entire system of the extended family is challenged with the gravity of the crisis. Children are forced to take the role of parents and are expected to provide care for their siblings when they themselves require care and support. Through a consultative, participatory process with a wide range of partners at all levels during the development of the Second Multisectoral National Strategic Plan, the drivers of the epidemic were identified as: inadequate public awareness of the epidemic, multiple concurrent sexual partners, cultural beliefs and practices with negative implications, intergenerational sex, secrecy and denial of HIV infection, untreated sexually transmitted infections, poverty, low condom use, early sex, population movement and substance abuse— especially alcohol. Through targeted interventions by various partners, the drivers of the epidemic can be addressed. Due to its middle-income status, Swaziland does not benefit from the major funds.

Challenges and emerging issues that stakeholders will have to consider in 2006 are:

• severe shortages of skilled human resources across all sectors especially in health where there is an exodus of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and social workers to the developed world;
• decentralization with regard to service delivery at the local and community level;
• effective communication strategy with regard to appropriate messages and coordinated preventive activities for the different groups of people;
• roll out of antiretroviral treatment services to everybody who is in need, meeting nutritional needs for people on antiretroviral drugs, complete rollout of treatment literacy, scaling up national and community-based responses such as care for food, education and socialization of the estimated 69 000 orphans which are projected to be 120 000 by 2010, making available a credible and cost effective drug and patient management system with skilled workers to operationalize it; and
• expanding coverage and providing resources for youth friendly services at the national, regional and community levels and prevention of HIV infection among sexually active young people.

UN Support to the National Response

• Together with government and stakeholders, the UNAIDS family finalized a Common Country Assessment identifying five national priorities/goals (HIV and AIDS, poverty, food security, basic social services, and governance), and developed a United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2006–2010 around these five pillars.
• The UNAIDS family identified joint programme areas and developed the draft 2006 UN Implementation Support Plan to the Second National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2006–2008.
• Technical and financial support was provided to the Joint Review of the National Strategic Plan (2000–2005) finalized in 2005 and the subsequent development of the Second National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan and Action Plan 2006–2008, and National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Policy. Technical staff from UN agencies took part in the technical working groups to assist in the development of the documents.
• The Swaziland Partnership Forum on HIV and AIDS (SPAFA), initiated by the Expanded Theme Group on HIV and AIDS in 2004 to enhance multisectoral cooperation in an effort to strengthen and scale up the national response, held four meetings in 2005. Currently facilitated and chaired by the UNTG, SPAFA is expected to be spearheaded by government in 2006.
• The UNAIDS family developed and implemented the Intensifying Joint UN Support for “3 by 5” Action Plan for 2005 to intensify the joint efforts of the UN to strengthen care and support services to people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS and to accelerate access to antiretroviral treatment. The UN Theme Group also drafted the Intensifying Joint UN Support for HIV Prevention and Impact Mitigation Action Plan.
• The Swaziland’s UN HIV and AIDS Workplace Programme was launched through an awareness week culminated by a very remarkable World AIDS Day Commemoration for all UN staff. A needs assessment survey of UN staff was conducted to help facilitate the development of a Plan of Action for 2006.
• A National Action Plan for the Secretary-General’s Task Force on Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS was finalized in 2005 in an effort to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls in Swaziland.

Technical and financial assistance was provided to the Swaziland Treatment Awareness Team to conduct trainings for 65 trainers of trainers for treatment literacy rollout among groups of people living with HIV and community-based cares.

The UNAIDS family supported the finalization of the Menu of Partnership Options to help provide the private sector with an opportunity to develop and strengthen partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, government, people living with HIV, churches and within the private sector itself.

The main plan/objectives of the UNAIDS family for 2006 are:

• operationalizing the Global Task Team recommendations that include the finalization and implementation of the 2006 Joint UN Implementation Support Plan to the Second Multisectoral National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan and Action Plan 2006–2008;
• finalization and operationalization of joint programmes;
• supporting the scale-up of national efforts towards universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support; strengthen national HIV prevention efforts through the formation of a National HIV Prevention Committee;
• mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into sectors and programmes; and
• developing a UN advocacy strategy on HIV and AIDS.

The UNAIDS family will enhance its advocacy efforts with the highest level of government leadership in order to ensure 2006 is a year to deliver and turn the tide of the epidemic in Swaziland. The UNAIDS family will also take steps to form a Joint UN Team on HIV and AIDS, undertake a mapping of UN resources for HIV, assessment of HIV competence among UN staff and finalize/define division of labour among the UN agencies to streamline its support to the national response.

Contacts

David Okello
Chair, UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS
(WHO Representative)
1st Floor New Mall Building
P.O. Box 903
Mbabane, Swaziland
Tel: +268 404 2928 / 404 4268
Fax: +268 404 4566
Mobile: 268 602 0960
Email: dokello@who.org.sz

UNAIDS Country Coordinator
Mulunesh Tennagashaw
Tel: +268 405-0651
Fax: +268 404-9931
Email: mulunesh.tennagashaw@undp.org

Country profiles provide key information on the status-quo of the HIV pandemic in the countries of the region. Data is updated by the UNAIDS Country Offices on a yearly basis.