Africa-Press – Eswatini. The National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) has ramped up its advocacy and prevention efforts across the country, with renewed focus on strengthening local coordination and addressing the root causes of rising HIV infections, particularly among adolescent girls.
During the reporting period, NERCHA intensified community engagement campaigns, orienting Tinkhundla councils on the National HIV Coordination Framework and the National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS. These initiatives are designed to decentralize and deepen the HIV response at grassroots level, empowering local leaders to take an active role in prevention and care.
“Nurturing local leadership and strengthening community systems are essential pillars in sustaining the national HIV response,” a NERCHA spokesperson said.
As part of its commitment to prevention, NERCHA continued to enhance its HIV Prevention Programmes, with a particular emphasis on behavioral change, awareness campaigns, and inclusive strategies targeting vulnerable populations.
A major highlight on the horizon is the upcoming inaugural HIV Prevention Indaba, a landmark event that will bring together policymakers, healthcare providers, development partners, and community stakeholders to deliberate on systemic challenges driving HIV incidence in Eswatini.
The Indaba will feature a round table discussion focused on addressing the programmatic, systemic, social, and structural factors fueling new infections, especially among teenage girls—a demographic that remains disproportionately affected by the epidemic.
“This Indaba is not just a conversation; it’s a call to action,” said a senior NERCHA official. “We aim to generate actionable solutions that will inform a more comprehensive and effective HIV prevention response for the country.”
Stakeholders expect the outcome of the Indaba to lead to stronger policy interventions, enhanced inter-sectoral collaboration, and community-driven initiatives that directly respond to the lived realities of those most at risk.
With the HIV epidemic still posing significant public health challenges, NERCHA’s continued leadership and innovation are seen as critical to ensuring Eswatini achieves its national and global HIV targets.
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