Swaziland

With an HIV prevalence rate of 26.1%, Swaziland is currently experiencing the most severe HIV and AIDS epidemic in the world, with women being disproportionately affected. 22.6% of young women aged 15-24 in Swaziland are HIV positive compared with just 5.8% of young men of the same age. The national HIV prevalence rate among women attending ante-natal clinics aged 15-49 years is

estimated at 39.2% - one of the highest rates in the world.² Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are currently estimated at 130,000 and expected to rise to over 198,000 by 2010.³

As a result of the epidemic, Swaziland has been experiencing a downward spiral of conditions: economic growth and investment have slowed since the 1990’s; around 69% of the population is now reported to be living in poverty;⁴ and life expectancy has declined by 26 years from 1991-2005 and is projected to fall below 30 years by 2010.⁵

But access to antiretroviral therapy has increased dramatically in the past few years.  There are now more than 26,500 HIV positive people on treatment. It is estimated that up to 59,000 people are still in need of ART.

(RED) money in Swaziland supports programs which have already:

• Provided antiretroviral therapy for HIV AND AIDS to over 26,500 patients
• Given 25,500 mothers preventative antiretroviral therapy to reduce the risk of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV
• Reached over 168,000 people with voluntary counseling and testing for prevention of HIV
• Provided education support for over 96,500 vulnerable children
• Trained over 150 midwives and doctors in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
• Trained over 75 counselors to teach prevention of HIV
• Established more than 150 neighborhood care points providing meals to vulnerable children and established feeding schemes in 572 schools
• Trained over 800 nurses and doctors in treating patients with HIV and AIDS
• Trained almost 3,000 health workers to deliver home-based care for HIV AND AIDS patients