BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has called for the promotion of Eswatini’s remarkable public health success stories, emphasizing the significant strides made by government health facilities in providing affordable, high-quality healthcare to the nation.
During a tour of government hospitals in Mbabane and Manzini on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, the Prime Minister expressed deep satisfaction with the services offered by public health institutions. Highlighting the importance of these achievements, he urged the nation to share these positive developments with the world.
“This is all wonderful to know. The country’s public health sector is doing a tremendous job in providing such wonderful services to the nation. Government is offering costly specialized health services to many Emaswati for free, and this deserves to be told to not just the nation but the world,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s tour included visits to several key departments, where he witnessed firsthand the range of services available and their impact on the community:
• Optometry Department at Mbabane Government Hospital: The facility’s Laser Cataract Surgery service drew particular praise, as did the provision of free healthcare for Emaswati aged 60 and above.
• Renal Dialysis Unit: Over 300 Emaswati benefit from free dialysis services, and even foreign nationals can access this critical service for a fee. This commitment to accessible care underscores the government’s dedication to health equity.
• Oncology Centre at Manzini Government Hospital: Offering chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments at no cost, the center also hosts a High Dependency Unit (HDU) supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). The Prime Minister lauded these efforts for relieving the financial burden on patients.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of countering narratives that undermine the public health sector’s achievements. He noted that some organizations falsely claim to offer superior services while overlooking the remarkable work done by government facilities.
“We should tell more of such good news about the public health sector to the masses so that we do not see other organizations spreading narratives and claiming to be offering better services to Emaswati than Government facilities, yet this is not the case,” Dlamini said.
The tour highlighted the government’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare and ensuring that every citizen has access to essential services. By offering free or low-cost care, Eswatini’s public health sector is setting a benchmark for service delivery in the region.
Prime Minister Dlamini’s call to action is a reminder that celebrating and sharing these accomplishments can inspire further progress while reinforcing public confidence in the nation’s healthcare system.
