BY MBONO MDLULI
EZULWINI – Government has committed an amount of E1.2 billion to fight diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria from 2023 to 2025.
This was said by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini today (Thursday, July 25, 2024) at Royal Villas in Ezulwini. This was during the launch of the CCM Eswatini 2023 to 2026. The event marked the beginning of the new Global Fund’s Grant Cycle for 2023 to 2026. This presents an opportunity for the CCM Eswatini to coordinate efforts in accessing and utilising Global Fund financing.
The prime minister was the guest speaker at the event and he delivered a key note address. “For the Year 2023-2025, the Government of Eswatini has committed herself to a total of E1 225 263 546.00 for the three diseases (E1 092 153 006.00 for HIV alone, E89 536 068.00 for tuberculosis and E43 574 472.00 for malaria).
Dlamini further said Government contributed E1 121 250 564.00 for HIV alone in the period of 2020- 2022. For TB, Government spent about E126 558 918.00 and E43 059 528.00 for malaria. In Total, Dlamini said this amounted to E1 290 869 010.
He said HIV remained a significant public health concern in the country, with about one in four adult Emaswati living with HIV. The country reported over 4000 new HIV cases in 2021, (Incidence of 0.62%). “The country is targeting less than 2 500 annual new infections by 2028. As of March 2024, 214 718 people living with HIV were receiving ARVs. Among adults, women are disproportionately affected by HIV. There are approximately two times more females than males on ART, with a peak in the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups for females and males, respectively,” he said.
For Tuberculosis, Dlamini said the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini had taken a leadership role in providing quality TB services and has also ensured a conducive environment to attract partners to support the response. In the current fiscal year, His Majesty’s Government has committed over E20 million to the TB Response, this amount includes E15 million for TB drugs and medical supplies and over 3 million to cover salaries for staff in the TB Programme.
For Malaria, Dlamini said Eswatini was at the elimination phase ahead of other countries in the region. For the past five years, the country had recorded an average of 450 confirmed malaria cases, with different variations over the years. For the past season that ended 30 June 2024, the country saw a 37 percent reduction in the number of cases reported when comparing it to the previous year.
A total of 487 cases were reported as opposed to 767 cases reported last year, according to the premier. “Of the 487 cases reported in 2023/2024, 210 (43 percent) are locally transmitted, and that alone clearly shows that there is still a lot of effort that needs to be put in to achieve the elimination goal. Malaria in the country is financially supported by both Eswatini Government and Global Fund through a Co-financing function,” he said.
Meanwhile, Global Fund has approved US$42 million (About E776 million) to Eswatini from 2023 to 2026. This was also revealed today during the event. In response, the prime minister said Government was grateful for this commitment to continue to fight.
The premier said through the Eswatini CCM, grants from the Global Fund for HIV, TB and malaria had made a significant impact. To date, Global Fund has committed US$350,659,996 (about E6.32 billion) and disbursed US$341,188,684 (about E6.3 billion). This support is received by the Kingdom of Eswatini through Eswatini CCM and implemented through NERCHA and CANGO as CCM Principal Recipients.
NERCHA has received US$322,264,365 whist CANGO received US$18,924,319. Global Fund has supported the implementation of National Strategic Plans for the three diseases. This includes procurement of health products, building resilient sustainable systems for health (RSSH), Refurbishment of the Central Medicals Stores, Delivery Vehicles for the Central Medical Stores, Reporting Systems: CMIS, ELMIS, Navision for CMS, MSDS for Malaria, Laboratory Information System (Computers Equipment and Software to mention a few.
