By ALEC LUSHABA | 2020-07-07
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has praised the outstanding progress made by the Kingdom of Eswatini in its fight against HIV and AIDS.
Speaking during the virtual launch of the UNAIDS 2020 Global AIDS report ‘Seizing the Moment,’ yesterday in Geneva, which was also joined by the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini as one of the guests, Byanyima said the kingdom has surpassed the 90- 90-90 target by achieving 95-95-95.
According to the prime minister Eswatini now is looking at 100-100-100 in the next coming years, which means 95 per cent of people living with HIV in the kingdom know their status, 95 per cent of all people who know their status are accessing HIV treatment and of the people on treatment 95 per cent have achieved viral suppression.
“We have drastically reduced AIDS-related deaths by 50 per cent from 6 600 in 2010 to 2 300 in 2019 and reduced new HIV infections by 50 per cent from 13 000 in 2010 to 6 500 in 2019,” the prime minister said. Dlamini further stated the country has been able to mobilise and reach young men who have played a significant role in breaking the cycle of new HIV infections.
“We have introduced innovations, reprogrammed our approaches to ensure that we tailor our responses in the right places.
Our communities have taken the lead and they have helped to shape our response. But we cannot rest on our successes. We must ensure that no one is left behind. We must close the gaps. We are aiming for 100-100-100. In the coming years, we will expand our programmes on voluntary medical male circumcision, programmes to reach young women and girls, bring more innovations to our HIV prevention efforts and transform gender relations.
“We have not done this alone. The kingdom has received support from our partners such as PEPFAR, Global Fund, UNAIDS and other development and bilateral partners.
It is important that the AIDS response drive continues with the principle of global solidarity, shared responsibility,” he said.
UNAIDS Executive Director Byanyima warned that the progress made in the past years, which has seen significant drop in cases and also in fatalities related to AIDS is currently threatened by COVID-19 pandemic. She said ‘Seizing the moment’ shows unequal progress, with too many vulnerable people and populations left behind.
“Around 62 per cent of new HIV infections occurred among key populations and their sexual partners, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prison, despite them constituting a very small proportion of the general population.
“Stigma and discrimination, together with other social inequalities and exclusion, are proving to be key barriers. Marginalised populations who fear judgement, violence or arrest struggle to access sexual and reproductive health services, especially those related to contraception and HIV prevention,” she said.
The UNAIDS executive director said stigma against people living with HIV is still commonplace. She said at least 82 countries criminalise some form of HIV transmission, exposure or non-disclosure, sex work is criminalised in at least 103 countries and at least 108 countries criminalise the consumption or possession of drugs for personal use.
“Women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa continue to be the most affected and accounted for 59 per cent of all new HIV infections in the region in 2019, with 4 500 adolescent girls and young women between 15 and 24 years old becoming infected with HIV every week.
“Young women accounted for 24 per cent of new HIV infections in 2019.
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