STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
AT THE NATIONAL HIV AND AIDS CONFERENCE
AT ROYAL SWAZI CONVENTION CENTRE
TUESDAY 12 JULY 2016
Programme Director
Your Royal Highnesses
Chiefs
Honourable Ministers
Regional Administrators
Honourable Members of both Houses of Parliament
Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps
Heads of UN agencies
Representatives of civil society organisations
Representatives of the private sector
People who are living with HIV and AIDS
Representatives of our young people
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
I start by welcoming all who are here today for this National HIV and AIDS Conference.
The world has recently commemorated the centenary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War. On that day 52,000 Allied soldiers died or were seriously wounded, with a similar number of casualties on the other side. One day in those killing fields! Much of a young generation lost, fighting for the safety of their families and fellow citizens. What a waste of life! What a relief when that dreadful war came to an end two years later.
That had much in common with the enemy that started its attack on our country, as long as 30 years ago - HIV the disease, and for many years AIDS the inevitable outcome. For Swaziland it started with fewer than 10 cases and spread like a raging fire to 200,000, a fifth of our population. The devastation, suffered by thousands of good people, young and old, our fellow citizens, was massive. More than 100,000 children lost their parents. The extended family structure, the bedrock of Swazi society became fractured, with many households headed by single parents, by grandparents and, sometimes even by children themselves. The economy was hit hard from the impact on the labour force.
Our country, along with many others in the world, faced a ruthless, silent, killer. In 1999, His Majesty King Mswati III declared HIV and AIDS a national disaster – Indzaba Yetfu Sonkhe. Our National Development Strategy identified the multi-sectoral nature of this attack on our people.
The national response has been determined and effective, owing to the partnership between dedicated professionals, communities, beneficent donors and wonderful life-saving medication. For those infected, or otherwise affected, the impact has been almost miraculous. Since rolling out free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in 2003, individuals, families, communities, and the Nation itself, have experienced a dramatic, indeed moving, transformation. The domestic economy contributes 40% of our total expenditure fighting HIV and AIDS and, since 2009, Government has taken on the responsibility for purchasing ARV and TB drugs.
I take the opportunity to thank our development partners and the UN Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria for their very substantial financial and other support. Among the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) the one for HIV was met by 2015 – quite an achievement. His Majesty attended the 2015 UN Annual General Meeting at which Swaziland was commended for our good work in the areas of prevention of mother to child HIV transmission, meeting the target for the number of people living with HIV who are on treatment, and for the virtual elimination of malaria.
In November 1918 the First World War ended. But our battle with HIV and AIDS continues. We are not there yet. If we were, then we would not need the Three Zeros target – zero deaths through AIDS, zero new infections, and zero stigma. His Majesty has challenged us to make our country AIDS-free by 2022. Last month I participated in the international signature of the 2016 UN Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and the global AIDS-free target for 2030. The targets are set, the commitment is there.
Ending AIDS has a broad thrust to it, with two ends to the spectrum. On the one hand we have to focus where HIV has already struck and on the other, prevent it striking in the first place by reducing the rate of new infections to zero. The Three 90s, agreed in the recent UN High Level Meeting, dovetail with the Three Zeros, by setting three 90% targets – getting 90% of those who are HIV-positive to know their status, 90% of all who know they are positive being on ART, and, thirdly, achieving 90% viral load suppression, the last target meaning an almost entire elimination of infectiousness.
In laymen’s terms that means more impact on behavior change, more people testing and more of those on ART adhering to a strict routine with their medication, and having access to the required nutrition.
In this regard, Government has developed an ending AIDS blueprint addressing the respective 2022 and 2030 targets. We are launching the Umgubudla Swaziland HIV Investment Case, a fast-track Ending AIDS Roadmap. It translates His Majesty’s vision of achieving an AIDS-free generation into clear, achievable but time-bound action targets that will significantly reduce new HIV infections and AIDS deaths through feasible, cost effective and sustainable measures.
His Majesty’s government has seen it fit to launch the Umgubudla, which literally means a roadway or water stream, at this important HIV and AIDS conference. It will publicly showcase to national and international stakeholders our steadfast commitment to complete the unfinished agenda to End AIDS in our society. It will also give each of those participating an opportunity to identify a role to be played in a successful implementation.
I see before me a veritable powerhouse of individuals and organisations, with stakeholders across a wide range, collectively with vast experience on the subject of HIV and AIDS. It is fertile territory for learning, sharing and adopting. You have, before you, an elaborate and innovative agenda lasting three possibly quite exhausting days. Please join us in launching Umgubudla. Effective implementation requires the collective effort of individuals, communities, stakeholders and development partners. I now invite each of us to find a role within it for Ending AIDS in Swaziland and globally.
The theme of the conference asks for a record of your views and experiences, as well as your respective reactions to the Ending AIDS Roadmap – for the benefit not only of our own country but, at the same time, to enable other countries to learn from Swaziland. On behalf of His Majesty’s Government I thank you all for the very valuable contributions you will make, and hereby declare Umgubudla duly launched.
Thank you.