MCPs leading in HIV spread

PRIME Minister Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini says the prevalence of multiple concurrent partnerships (MCPs) remains the single most damaging feature within society in the context of HIV and AIDS.
He says MCPs are the principal contributor to the incidence of new infections and has called upon society to adjust its attitude.
“Only when society at large is critical of that kind of individual behaviour will those who practice it feel influenced into change,” said the premier. He was speaking yesterday at the Royal Villas during a meeting of the Swaziland Partnership Forum on HIV and AIDS (SPAFA).
continuing
“The impact of HIV and AIDS is most severe at community level and we must constantly remind ourselves of the continuing challenges if they are to be overcome.
“We have an unacceptably high rate of new infections, meaning that individual behaviour is not matching the efforts of those administering the national response, especially in the era of prevention,” stated the premier. He applauded the ministry of tinkhundla administration and development for defining its role in coordinating HIV and AIDS interventions and ensuring the decentralisation of services.
The premier said the coordination framework launched during the meeting provided further confirmation of government’s seriousness in assisting communities in their response to HIV and AIDS. He also thanked the partners, who have assisted in developing the regional coordination mechanisms.
“There is also a deep concern for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC0. Much is being done to meet the needs but invariably, these are only basic needs yet the extent at which they are fully cared for will have a profound impact on the well-being of society 10 years down the road,” said the prime minister.

Govt to strengthen
new job creation

The premier stated that despite the huge challenge presented by the capacity constraint, government was determined that this year would be a truly significant milestone in new job creation.
 He said the list of achievements was substantial, adding that more than two thirds of those in need of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) were receiving it. The premier said a similar proportion of pregnant women with HIV were receiving the prophylaxis to prevent transmitting the virus to their babies.
He said all chiefdoms had a KaGogo centre well-managed and that OVC had access to education.
 “There are close to 1 000 neighbourhood care points that would soon be operational to cater for pre-school OVC.
“Such achievements exist because of a partnership between government, development partners, donors, civil society organisations, parliament, faith based organisations, traditional leadership and others.”
National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) Director Dr. Derreck Von Wissell said Swaziland has conducted a cost benefit analysis on scaling up male circumcision.
transmission
He said various studies have shown the efficacy of male circumcision in minising HIV transmission amongst males.
“Swaziland has 200 000 HIV positive people and continues to have new infection as 38 people get infected each day and 14 000 people per year.
The number of deaths is also a concern as 13 000 people die per year meaning that 36 die a day,” he said.
Dr. Von Wissell said there was need to eliminate the transmission of HIV to children by their mothers (PMTCT) and also address the issue of behaviour change as studies have shown that people were practising MCPs.
He said MCPs increase new infections and they were working hard with stakeholders to address this challenge. “Our target is to reach 80% in care and support for the people on anti-retroviral treatment as we now cover 65% of the people,” he said.