MTN Swaziland: Saving lives through bribes

“MTN Swaziland yesterday pledged cellphones to its first 30 staff members to take an HIV test. This was during the MTN HIV testing and counselling awareness campaign, which was in line with the April theme that encourages HIV testing and counselling held at the Prince of Wales ground in Mbabane. ”

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Where ignorance is not bliss

As of now most of the entries on this blog have looked at what’s been happening in the news and not in personal experiences. How individuals are being affected by the pandemic in Swaziland is important, as it helps one realize on a personal level the true magnitude of the problem.

An Educational Hole

It is undeniable that people are being educated in Swaziland on the problem and what they can do it fight it. This can be seen by billboards and posters urging Swazi’s to use condoms, and to go to clinics to be checked for HIV. It can also be heard in educational talks in schools and villages.

But how much do they really know?

For years the same night guard, Mavbela, has been working shifts at my home in Swaziland. He is over 30, has a wife and four children. Surely a man his age, and in his situation would be aware of the problem and what he should be doing to prevent it? Wrong. My mother told me of how she gave him a pamphlet on HIV and AIDS, and on the use of condoms. He came back to her the next day and asked her for more, so that he could give them to his friends. He also thanked her. He had heard of condoms, he had seen them advertised, but never before had he understood what exactly they were for, and what they could do for him.

I found this story sad and startling, that a man of his age and with his amount of responsibility, that he would not be aware of such a simple precaution. But he can not be blamed. Though organizations are trying their best to educate Swazi’s about the problem there are some who get left behind, due to age, work, or location. In order for the pandemic to be resolved everyone must be informed of the problem.

Taking on the Responsibilities of Family

Although it is common knowledge among Swazi’s that HIV is a very prevalent and serious problem many still ignore and deny its presence. This in turn can have severe effects on their loved ones, as when the disease takes their life, their family is left with their responsibilities.

Victor, the gardener at my home in Swaziland has a loving family, a wife, and four children. Over the past couple years he has been in the process of building a new home for his family, as of Christmas the only thing left was mounting a new roof. That was until the tragic death of his brother. Though no exact words explained it, it is accepted that his brothers death was due to HIV. Victor was now left with the responsibilities of his brother. These responsibilities included a widow, and ten fatherless children. Victor’s world was shaken, his family had tripled, but his income and home had not.

This story is tragic, and yet a perfect example of what is happening to Swazi’s all over the country. The only possible good thing that came out of this story was Victor’s realization that one’s HIV status should not be kept a mystery. He went with his wife and got tested, and unfortunately their results came back positive. At least now he has the knowledge and ability to prepare for the future that his brother did not.

These are just two stories, but both with powerful messages.

“A Forgotten Humanitarian Emergency”

Although HIV is the health issue in Swaziland that is making the headlines, there is another problem, the one that is actually taking lives that has fallen into the shadows. Tuberculosis. More than 80% of people suffering from tuberculosis in Swaziland are infected with HIV. The effect HIV has on the immune system makes individuals more at risk. 

The following video published by MCF (Médecins Sans Frontière [Doctors Without Borders]) explains the situation, and aims to ‘break the silence’. 

For more videos from MSF go to their Youtube page.

Can male circumcision really cut the risk?

The correlation between male circumcision and lower levels of HIV transmission has been studied for the past ten years, but never before has the evidence been so clear that researchers can now strongly recommend male circumcision as a preventative form of HIV transmission. 

Nandi Siegfried, Co-director of South African Cochrane Center at the South African Medical Research council was the lead researcher.

She said: “Research of the effectiveness of male circumcision to prevent HIV in heterosexual men is conclusive. No further trials are required to establish that HIV infection rates are reduced in heterosexual men for at least two years after circumcision. Policy makers can consider implementing circumcision as an additional measure into HIV prevention programs.”

The research estimates that circumcision could reduce the risk of a male contracting HIV by 38-66%. They maintain however that circumcision is not a vaccine, and that men who are circumcised should still take the same preventative measures as if they were not. 

The World Health Organization is in support of the research, and has made it a priority to develop policies and programs for safe male circumcision services. 

The introduction of safe male circumcision services in countries in Africa, including Swaziland could be very beneficial in cutting down the growing number of those infected with HIV.

Poverty: A barrier against fighting HIV

2008 was a tough year in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. Although the country was receiving aid in all forms from different countries it still struggled. Medicines and supplies for treating HIV and AIDS ran low, and many hospitals and care centers were in poor condition. But things are getting better. Since the end of 2008 until present 5,000 more people are being treated for HIV, bringing the number up to 32,000, and more funding is being dedicated to renovating hospitals to meet the appropriate needs.

UNAIDS aims to have 80% of people infected on medication by 2010. An ambitious target. If they intend to meet this goal they must be able to keep all the people presently on medication from dropping out, a problem that is mostly fueled by poverty. 

POVERTY

Antiretroviral (AVR) drugs are what most infected Swazi’s depend on in order to survive. Unfortunately the medication must be taken with a full stomach, a luxury not all Swazi’s can afford. Others that can afford daily meals cannot meet the cost of transportation to the hospitals to refill their medication. This leads to the discontinuation of their medication, and the aggressive return of their infection. The World Health Organization has attempted to combat malnutrition by offering patients free food when they pick up their medications, unfortunately food is not always in stock, a small problem, but with morbid consequences. 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Another barrier in the treatment of HIV/AIDS is the remaining belief in the power of traditional medicine and faith healing. Many of those infected are discouraged from taking AVR by elders, and by the time they realize it does not work, it is too late. 

It has become apparent that successfully combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Swaziland is not as simple as providing medication and care facilities. The timeless barriers must also be broken down. Swaziland’s problem is still developing, and has not yet reached its peak, lets hope it never does. 

See PlusNews for more information.

Pope Benedict XVI claims condoms are not the answer for HIV/AIDS in Swaziland

Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Africa

Pope Benedict XVI aggravated a public outcry from both Africans and foreigners, when on his first visit to Africa he claimed that the use of condoms could worsen the AIDS pandemic.

He said AIDS “could not be overcome by the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems’.

Many of have come forward to dispute the claim of the Pope, including Tommy Simmons, the deputy chairman of the African Medical and Research Foundation.

He told ABC: “Actually there’s more people alive today with AIDS than there has ever been, so there’s a greater risk for the epidemic extending, and it has to be limited. And condoms are the best way of stopping the virus from moving from one person to another”.

He added that though the church has the right to its own views, it should not impose them on people suffering in such a way, as condoms are the best chance for the survival of many.

Others are saying that the Pope’s claim was irresponsible, and that though his claim is meant to evoke good and moral behavior, it is irresponsible of him to suggest the dismissal of something that is the most effective measure against the problem escalating in countries such as Swaziland.

Though the Pope’s statement induced an uproar there are still some who agree with his conclusion and give scientific support.

Senior Harvard Research Scientist for AIDS prevents, Dr. Edward Green spoke with CNA (Catholic News Agency) on his support of the Pope’s claim.

He said: “Theoretically, condoms ought to work, and theoretically, some condom use ought to be better than no condom use, but that’s theoretically”.

He went on to say however that a relationship has yet to be found between more condoms use and lower HIV rates in Africa.

He also suggested a worrying phenomenon called “risk compensation”, the “idea that if somebody is using a certain technology to reduce risk, a phenomenon actually occurs where people are willing to take on greater risk.” Or in other words, the availability of condoms may increase promiscuity and increase HIV/AIDS numbers.

As previously stated, many disagreed with the Pope’s statement and bashed the church with insults of how they might aggravate the HIV/AIDS problem by encouraging people not to use condoms.

"A prayer alone will not stop HIV", neither alone will condoms

I find myself on unsure grounds on the matter. Though I do not support the Pope’s encouragement of no more condom use, I do find myself wondering if there is any truth in what he is saying. It is true that the availability of condoms gives the people of Swaziland an excuse to get away with immoral sexual behavior such as promiscuity and polygamy, but yet at the same time it also offers them protection from something they have otherwise found impossible to escape.

Though it may be difficult, perhaps now the focus should be directed at ridding the country of such immoral behaviors, by encouraging monogamy and abstinence. It will be a long time before Swaziland is HIV/AIDS free, but they should be doing everything in their power to cut down the numbers, even if it means traditions such as polygamy have to go with it.

What are your views on the matter?

The United Kingdom’s Role in the Fight

Swaziland has been scheduled to recieve over £19 million from 2007-11 from the Department for International Development (DFID), a sector of the British Government that aims to promote sustainability and eliminate world poverty.

The funding is aimed at community organizations which address health issues through the regional Behavior Change Communication programme (BCC).

Each year BCC donates 500,000 GBP to the South African non-governmental organization Soul City. The organization in turn provides easily understandable and relevant information on HIV/AIDS for men and women in Swaziland. The programme currently reaches over 80% of young people in the Kingdom.

European Commission vows to do more

Ten southern African countries from the European Commissions group, including Swaziland, met in Lilongwe, Malawi to participate in a two-day conference to discuss the current situation of HIV/AIDS. The overall conclusion of the meeting was that the European Commission needs to do more to support the efforts to prevent HIV transmission in southern Africa.

Alessandro Mariani, the European Union ambassador to Malawai said “We have to do more on prevention, and we have to do it better and faster. HIV infections are unacceptably high”.

Mariani added that they want a “new generation which is HIV-free”, and in order to do this prevention must be put as the priority. Some means of prevention that will be looked into are mother-to-child transmission, and transmission to the general public.

It has not yet been stated exactly when or how much funding will go into their vow to help in the prevention against HIV/AIDS.

Swaziland to receive $30 million to fight HIV/AIDS

U.S. President Barack Obama

It has recently been confirmed by the American Embassy in Swaziland that the nation is scheduled to receive $30 million to fight HIV/AIDS through the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

PEPFAR was launched in 2003 under the Bush Administration, but is now under the control of Barack Obama, and is considered to be the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history.

Please stay tuned to this blog for a follow up story on PEPFAR in Swaziland, and what exactly they are doing to help.

Health Officials See Glass as Half Full

Health officials in Swaziland are optimistic about the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, they are saying that it could prove to be a good thing.

One might wonder how 42% of pregnant women being infected with HIV/AIDS could ever be a good thing. But once you consider their logic it does seem possible.

Mukasa-Monico, a health official in Swaziland, told The Swazi Observer that the the high numbers indicate not necessarily that more people are becoming infected, but that more people are coming forward, being tested, and seeking help for their condition. Which in turn means that less people are dying.

Health officials are also saying that the increase of 3% is not that drastic, and though the numbers of HIV/AIDS may be high, they are being maintained at a somewhat stable level.

Though such high levels of HIV/AIDS are never a good thing, it is reassuring to understand that the increasing numbers may be a result of social acceptance of the problem, and that this, in turn is allowing more to be done to fight the disease.