Yesterday millions of people in South Africa marked the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day under the banner of leadership and unity. At midday Deputy President Baleka Mbete led the nation in a 15 minute national stoppage to give all South Africans the opportunity to think and talk about the pandemic. This unprecedented focus on the pandemic, which follows last week’s launch of the country’s new national plan for HIV/AIDS, is backed by every major sector of society.
Since the first World AIDS Day in 1988 South Africa and its neighbours have undergone an immense social and political transformation. But as they have fought to overcome the legacy of apartheid the region has seen a massive growth in the rates of HIV/AIDS, placing a huge burden on people, families, communities and the state.
Southern Africa has been hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic worse than any other region in the world. According to the latest UNAIDS report, 35 per cent of all HIV infections and 38 per cent of all AIDS deaths in 2007 occurred in the region.
This year ACTSA is once again working to draw the international community’s attention to the Kingdom of Swaziland. This tiny landlocked country, often overshadowed by its neighbours, is better known for having Africa’s only absolute monarch than it is for having the highest HIV rate in the world.
Gender and the advancement of women are at the core of tackling the pandemic in Swaziland as the economic, social and political marginalisation of women increase their vulnerability to the disease. Women continue to be much more likely to be infected than men. Economic and social empowerment is essential in allowing women to negotiate safe sex and reversing the infection trends.
There is a continuing challenge in Swaziland to break the silence, stigma and discrimination that still surrounds HIV. Many women are afraid to declare their status in fear of being victimised or even outcast by their families. Siphiwe Hlophe is one woman who understands only too well the victimisation that women face. After being rejected by her community for being HIV positive, Siphiwe led a group of HIV positive women to fill the gap where the government and King had failed.
“I thought that people victimized us because they didn’t understand much about HIV. So, I said, let’s form an organisation that will assist us, and also help to train others. We call our group Swaziland Positive Living. The name came from the suffering we experienced; we wanted to make a positive out of a negative.”
SWAPOL has grown to be a formidable campaigning force and service provider in Swaziland. It works to reduce stigma, promote healthy nutrition, and developing income-generating activities throughout the country.
This week SWAPOL has joined forces with ACTSA to highlight the impact of HIV/AIDS on Swaziland. Together through a series of high profile events and meetings we are informing and educating people about the pandemic in the country as well as the struggle for democracy and rights.
ACTSA campaigns for effective action on HIV/AIDS. We are calling for the G8 to realise its promise of universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 and for the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children to be fully addressed.
ACTSA is the successor organisation to the Anti Apartheid Movement, we campaign for justice, rights and development in solidarity with the people of southern Africa.
Click here for more information about ACTSA’s forthcoming events on HIV/AIDS