PM calls for transformed people-centred HIV response
By Siphesihle Dlamini
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has called for a more resilient, inclusive, and transformed national HIV and AIDS response, stating that Eswatini must strengthen systems in ways that reflect the realities of communities, especially those in regions shaped by movement and vulnerability.
He delivered the message during the Lubombo Region World AIDS Day build-up event held at Matsanjeni North Inkhundla, where residents, youth groups, health workers, and traditional leaders converged ahead of the global commemoration.
Addressing the crowd, the Prime Minister said Lubombo’s long-standing identity as a place of movement, connection, and resilience made it a powerful symbol of this year’s World AIDS Day theme, “Overcoming Disruptions, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
He told attendees that the region’s history mirrors the journey Eswatini continues to walk, one that requires constant adaptation and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that people receive care wherever they live or work. Dlamini highlighted that migration,
unemployment, and poverty remain some of the most significant drivers of vulnerability, particularly among young people and women.
He noted that these challenges are not abstract statistics but lived experiences that continue to shape how households survive and how communities navigate risk.
“Migration brings livelihood possibilities,” he said, “but it also exposes families, especially young people and women, to new vulnerabilities that have real implications for our HIV response.”
The Prime Minister said that Eswatini must strengthen its health systems so they can “move with the people,” ensuring uninterrupted access to services even in areas where daily life is shaped by cross-border travel, seasonal labour, and unpredictable disruptions.
He emphasised that a transformed health sector must pay attention to the patterns of life that define communities like those in Lubombo.
Central to his address was the need for greater integration of services. The PM stressed that HIV care can no longer sit apart from other essential health interventions.
He explained that true transformation requires the blending of reproductive health services, mental health support, and non-communicable disease care into one coordinated approach.
“Transformation means ensuring that HIV services are fully integrated with reproductive health, mental health, and non-communicable disease services,” he said, adding that this must extend “to the cross-border areas where people live and work.”
The Prime Minister also spoke directly to the role of young people, describing them as the heart of the country’s next stage of progress. He argued that prevention alone is no longer enough if the youth remain trapped in cycles of poverty.
“Our young people are at the heart of this transformation,” he said. “We must pair HIV prevention with economic empowerment so they can dream, work, and live free from both poverty and disease.
” He later added indirectly that the country cannot expect long-term behavioural change without investing in livelihoods, opportunities, and supportive environments that give young people real choices.
Dlamini called on Government ministries, regional bodies, and development partners to deepen collaboration, particularly in strengthening cross-border health systems.
He emphasised that partnerships are essential for populations whose daily lives span multiple countries, stressing that no community should be left behind simply because they live or work at the margins of geography.
Throughout his remarks, the Prime Minister maintained that the HIV response must remain grounded in humanity, families striving for stability, young people seeking opportunity, and communities drawing strength from one another.
He noted that investment must go beyond clinical care to include people, education, livelihoods, and the cultural values that sustain resilience.
The Premier further reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the long-term fight against HIV. He told attendees that Eswatini’s strength lies in its unity and ability to adapt, insisting that the nation remains firmly committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The road ahead, he said, will require courage, partnership, and a transformed way of thinking, but the country possesses all the tools and determination needed to shape a healthier future.