‘HIV is still real menace’ – warns PM
By Siphesihle Dlamini
Eswatini might have been the first African country to achieve the global HIV 95-95-95 milestone but the Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, at the launch of the World AIDS Day 2025 campaign in Eswatini, has called for a collective reality check and renewed commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Speaking to a gathering of government officials, health experts, community leaders, and international partners at the World AIDS Day launch at Royal Swazi Spa, he underscored the continuing challenges the country faces despite significant progress.
“Today I want us to have a reality check,” Prime Minister Dlamini began, emphasising the sobering statistics that remain a stark reminder of the epidemic’s grip on the nation.
“We must confront the sobering reality that more than 4,000 new HIV infections still occur each year in our country.
” He highlighted a troubling rise in AIDS-related deaths, attributing this to issues such as poor treatment adherence, late presentation to care, and the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among people living with HIV.
Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and mental health problems are increasingly undermining the health and longevity of those affected.
This, he explained, is the “disruption” referenced in this year’s campaign theme, “Overcoming Disruptions, Transforming the AIDS Response.
” The Prime Minister described this disruption as one that affects progress, health systems, and hope itself. Yet, he stressed that the government and people of Eswatini are committed not to retreat but to transform their approach to the epidemic.
Dlamini urged a return to fundamental prevention values, particularly abstinence among young people, saying, “This is a reminder that HIV is still a real menace. It is time we re-instil the values of abstinence in our young people.
If you cannot abstain, then protect yourself and those you claim to love.” He called for innovative service delivery models that integrate HIV care with other health priorities such as NCDs, mental health, and reproductive health.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the need to tackle the social and economic factors that increase vulnerability to HIV, including poverty, inequality, gender-based violence, and stigma.
Highlighting the need for sustainability, Dlamini spoke about the challenges posed by global funding cuts. “Transforming the AIDS response requires that we build a response that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient,” he said.
He called for a bold shift toward national ownership and domestic resource mobilisation, ensuring that communities, especially young people, women, men, and key populations, are central to this transformation, not just as beneficiaries but as active agents of change.
The Prime Minister reminded the audience that Eswatini remains a global leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “Eswatini continues to be recognised globally for its exceptional achievements in progress towards the elimination of HIV,” he said proudly.
The country has surpassed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and was recently recognised as one of the most improved countries in essential health services since 2011.
This success, he noted, is the result of strong political leadership, community commitment, and the tireless work of health professionals, partners, and civil society.
The launch event featured an interactive panel discussion aimed at reflecting on the current state of the HIV response and realigning strategies to overcome ongoing disruptions.
Dlamini expressed optimism that the insights gathered would help shape the nation’s journey toward World AIDS Day on December 1st and beyond.
In a direct appeal to partners, the Prime Minister said, “To our partners, local and international, we value your continued collaboration and call upon you to remain steadfast in your support.”
He also acknowledged the vital role of communities, stating, “Your voices, your stories, and your resilience continue to drive the HIV response in the country.”
He called on the private sector, faith leaders, and youth networks to step up their leadership in this critical phase.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Dlamini issued a rallying call for unity and hope: “As we embark on this campaign, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to a future where no child is born with HIV,
where no life is lost to AIDS, and where every person living with HIV can live long and healthy lives free from stigma, discrimination, and inequality.”
He ended on a note of collective determination, “Together, we can overcome the disruptions. Together, we can transform the AIDS response.”
