BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI – More than 1 200 people across Eswatini have called for greater community involvement in shaping HIV prevention programmes, highlighting the need for interventions that respond to the realities and experiences of the people they are intended to serve.
National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) Director HIV Response and Coordination, Dr Bongani Masango, said communities had made it clear that they wanted to be actively involved in determining how HIV prevention responses are developed and implemented.
Speaking during the Manzini Regional Dissemination of the HIV Prevention Indaba Findings, where stakeholders were presented with findings from the nationwide engagement. He said the HIV Prevention Indaba was established to listen to emaSwati and understand what makes it easier or more difficult for people to protect themselves from HIV, why some prevention services are not fully utilised and what communities believe should be done differently.
More than 1 200 people participated in the Indaba, including young people, parents, women, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, community leaders and other stakeholders. “Their message was clear, communities want to be part of shaping the HIV prevention response” Masango said.
The Indaba was held under the theme “Ngive Nami” meaning “Hear Me Too” or “Let My Voice Be Heard”. According to Masango, the theme reflects communities’ desire to have their experiences and perspectives considered when HIV prevention strategies are developed. He said HIV prevention should not only focus on biomedical interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms and treatment, but should also consider the social environments in which people make decisions.
Masango highlighted the influence of conversations within families, community values and social norms on people’s ability to protect themselves from HIV and make use of available prevention services. The Manzini dissemination meeting sought to share the key findings with regional stakeholders, reflect on their implications for communities and identify practical actions that could strengthen HIV prevention and improve uptake of services.
As Eswatini works towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, Masango said the success of the research would ultimately depend on whether its findings were converted into meaningful action. “The true value of this study will not be measured by the quality of the report, but by how we use its findings to improve the lives of our people,” he said.
He encouraged stakeholders to listen openly, engage honestly and contribute constructively to the HIV prevention agenda, particularly by ensuring that young people’s voices are heard. Masango said continued engagement with communities would be essential in translating evidence into practical HIV prevention measures that respond to the needs of emaSwati.
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