Swazi Observer, 10 July 2014

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has invested over E1.8 billion into HIV and AIDS programmes in Swaziland between 2004 and 2011.

These resources were received by the country to support comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care programmes. This was disclosed by PEPFAR's Lucille Benoventure when making a presentation to members of parliament Portfolio Committee on HIV and AIDS at Happy Valley on Monday.

The meeting themed 'Creating and enabling policy and legal environment for the HIV response' was facilitated by NERCHA who had an initial engagement with the HIV and AIDS Portfolio Committee in May.

understanding

The follow-up meeting was meant to deepen the committee's understanding of the local HIV and AIDS response and how they can meaningfully contribute to the same.

To facilitate this meaningful engagement, there were bilateral partners like PEPFAR, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and UNAIDS; sector directors of coordinating bodies like CANGO, SWABCHA, AMICAAL; Swaziland National AIDS Programme of the ministry of health and the Country Coordinating Mechanism on HIV and AIDS.

response

CANGO coordinates civil society organisations which are largely non-governmental organisations; while SWABCHA coordinates the business sector whilst AMICAALL coordinates the urban response to HIV and AIDS.

During this meeting, Benoventure explained that PEPFAR allocates resources through different agencies in-country, which include the United States Agency for international Development (USAID); United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); US Department of Defence (DOD); Peace Corps and the Department of State (DoS), for instance to support different HIV and AIDS programmes.

PEPFAR is the United States Government initiative which seeks to save the lives of those living with HIV around the world. It is a historic commitment, largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally.

Speaking during this meeting, United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Country Director Dr. Peter Ehrenkranz hinted that PEPFAR would like to conduct a second Swaziland Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS) in January 2016.

The first SHIMS was conducted in 2011 and accordingly disseminated to stakeholders. This survey (SHIMS) positively influenced HIV and AIDS programming in Swaziland.

The extended National Multisectoral Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (eNSF) launched by Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini in April this year, draws data from SHIMS.

critical

To this end, SHIMS remains one of the most critical and insightful surveys ever conducted in Swaziland because it provides contextual information and epidemiological data on HIV and AIDS. For instance, it provides details on which age brackets are most affected by new HIV infections. Dr. Peter Ehrenkranz mentioned the idea of a second SHIMS was to assure Members of Parliament in attendance that the HIV and AIDS response on track, something which was also confirmed by some of the MPs. Dr. Ehrenkranz indicated that as bilateral partners in the HIV and AIDS response, they are optimistic that the second SHIMS study will "demonstrate that the Swazi response to HIV and AIDS is really working."

During the same meeting, Benoventure allayed fears of members of parliament who wanted to know if funding from the United States will be accessed beyond President Obama's term of office. She assured them that resources accessed through this fund required those supported to be accountable in how the money had been used.

"As long as the US Congress approves, these resources will be available to support HIV and AIDS programmes in Swaziland," she explained.

partnership

PEPFAR works in partnership with host nations. Over 10 years PEPFAR plans to support treatment for at least three million people; prevent 12 million new HIV infections, including five million orphaned and vulnerable children. According to Wendy Benzerga, who oversees PEPFAR Swaziland prevention programmes, the organisation supports programmes that are "more strategic, targeted and aligned with the extended National Multi-Sectoral HIV and AIDS Framework (eNSF)." This position was also expressed by Benoventure when the eNSF was launched by that country's prime minister when she said "the eNSF is the PEPFAR plan."

By Observer Reporter

Source: Swazi Observer