BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) has called on the Government of Eswatini, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) to join hands in securing the immediate reinstatement of allied healthcare workers whose employment contracts ended on September 30, 2026.
The union says reinstating the workers is critical to protecting public healthcare services, supporting nurses who are already struggling with staff shortages and preserving the country’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In a statement dated October 1, 2026, SWADNU appealed to the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to work together to ensure that the affected workers return to their duties without further delay.
The union warned that the absence of the workers could place additional pressure on an already overstretched healthcare workforce, potentially undermining the delivery of essential services to patients across the country.
SWADNU has given the authorities a fortnight to address the matter, warning that it is prepared to take to the streets if the workers are not reinstated within that period.
The affected workers include HIV Testing and Counselling Services (HTS) counsellors, phlebotomists, data clerks and expert clients, who have worked alongside nurses in supporting healthcare delivery.
According to the union, these workers have played an important role in helping Eswatini achieve progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and in advancing the 95-95-95 targets for HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression.
SWADNU said their contribution has been essential in ensuring that people living with HIV know their status, those diagnosed receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
The union expressed concern that ending the workers’ contracts without renewal could reverse some of the gains made in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
It also highlighted the pressure that the development could place on nurses, who are already dealing with staffing shortages, heavy workloads and burnout.
The union believes that bringing the affected workers back into the health system would help strengthen existing healthcare teams, improve service delivery and protect the progress made in addressing the country’s public health challenges.
The contracts were reportedly supported by non-governmental organisations, many of which received funding from American sources. The union linked the uncertainty surrounding the workers’ employment to the reduction in foreign aid announced by United States President Donald Trump in 2025, particularly funding associated with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
SWADNU said the workers had faced uncertainty over their employment before being informed through letters from the Ministry of Health that their contracts would end on September 30, 2026, without renewal.
Against this background, the union is urging government leaders to treat the matter as a priority and find a way to retain the workers whose services remain important to the healthcare system.
The call places renewed focus on the importance of cooperation between government, Parliament, the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders in safeguarding the continuity of essential health services.
SWADNU has also reiterated its commitment to quality public healthcare for all, calling for the absorption of allied and support staff into the health sector and the employment of more nurses.
The union’s appeal for the reinstatement of the affected workers comes amid concerns about the sustainability of healthcare services when essential personnel are lost.
By calling for a joint response from government, Cabinet and Parliament, SWADNU is seeking a solution that would protect both healthcare workers and the patients who depend on their services.
The union maintains that retaining the affected personnel would help ease the burden on nurses, sustain HIV/AIDS programmes and strengthen the country’s ability to deliver essential public healthcare services.
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