BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
EZULWINI – The newly opened Khanyisile Clinic at Nyonyane, Ezulwini, has surpassed the national healthcare access target by bringing medical services within five kilometres of the local community.
His Majesty King Mswati III said the development was in line with the country’s commitment to ensuring that every Liswati has access to quality healthcare within easy reach.
Speaking during the official opening of the facility at Ezulwini Palazzo after the tour of the clinic at Nyonyane, the King said approximately 85 per cent of Eswatini’s population currently lived within eight kilometres of a health facility.
He said the new clinic went further by bringing healthcare services within five kilometres of the Nyonyane community.
The development therefore exceeds the national access benchmark and strengthens the country’s efforts to improve universal health coverage.
The King said the country had made significant progress in the health sector, with several indicators showing improvement over recent years.
He said Eswatini’s Universal Health Coverage Service Index had increased from 58 per cent to approximately 70 per cent over the past five years.
The improvement reflects efforts to expand access to healthcare while strengthening the quality and availability of services across the country.
The King also highlighted progress in reducing maternal deaths.
Between 2019 and 2024, maternal mortality declined from 107 deaths to 70 deaths per 100 000 live births.
He said the decline was an indication of progress in protecting mothers and improving healthcare outcomes.
The country has also recorded significant progress in the fight against tuberculosis.
According to the King, tuberculosis incidence has fallen by 46 per cent since 2015.
He said cervical cancer screening had also expanded, with 66 per cent of eligible women now covered.
Eswatini is further targeting the elimination of malaria by 2028.
The King said the country remained firmly on track towards that objective, having recorded zero malaria-related maternal deaths in 2024.
He attributed these achievements to the commitment of healthcare workers and sustained support from development partners, including the World Health Organisation and the Global Fund.
The opening of Khanyisile Clinic adds another component to these national efforts by expanding access to healthcare in the Ezulwini area.
The King said bringing services closer to communities had benefits extending beyond convenience.
He explained that shorter distances to healthcare facilities reduced travelling costs, protected household income and encouraged people to seek treatment at an earlier stage.
The clinic also strengthens access to services beyond basic primary healthcare.
It provides specialist consultations, dental care and diagnostic services, while specialised medical services include endoscopy and dermatology.
The facility’s model also incorporates collaboration between its specialist doctors and government health services.
The King said specialist doctors from the clinic had been working in public hospitals alongside government doctors and contributing towards clinical training and mentorship.
He said such collaboration was important in strengthening Eswatini’s healthcare workforce.
The clinic’s development also reflects the role of partnerships in improving healthcare delivery.
Its origins can be traced to medical volunteer missions involving specialists from South Korea and the United States.
The missions, initiated by Daniel Kim in 2010, initially provided medical services alongside the Ministry of Health before developing into a dedicated health centre.
The facility was later developed into a permanent healthcare institution serving the community.
The King said the continued collaboration between the clinic and the Ministry of Health demonstrated the importance of partnerships in complementing government efforts.
He said the healthcare gains recorded by the country should encourage all stakeholders to maintain the momentum.
The development of healthcare infrastructure is particularly important as communities and economic centres expand.
Ezulwini has undergone a major transformation over the past 40 years, growing into a hub where tourism, hospitality, diplomacy, trade, traditional leadership and public institutions operate alongside one another.
The King said future growth in the valley should be inclusive and should ensure that healthcare, public infrastructure and youth skills development kept pace with development.
The official opening of Khanyisile Clinic therefore comes at a time when Eswatini is seeking to consolidate gains in healthcare access and improve health outcomes.
The King said the facility would complement the milestones already achieved by the Kingdom in providing quality healthcare to emaSwati.
He officially declared the facility open, urging its legacy to reflect the spirit of compassion and service behind its establishment.
The clinic was named Khanyisile, meaning “she who brought light”, in honour of Hee Yeon, whose family transformed her inheritance into a charitable healthcare legacy following her death in 2019.
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