SWAZILAND: Swaziland stands alone with the world's highest rate of HIV infection after nearby Botswana made headway against the deadly pandemic, the United Nations special envoy on AIDS, Mr Stephen Lewis, said yesterday.
Sparsely populated Swaziland and Botswana have long been twinned with the highest rates of HIV infection, although with 38.8 per cent of adults infected, Botswana had slightly outstripped Swaziland at 38.6 per cent.
But Mr Lewis said Botswana had made progress in cutting its rate, while Swaziland's rate had stayed the same.
"Botswana has made a very strong claim that they have lowered their infection rate from 38.8 per cent to 37.5 per cent. That leaves Swaziland with the world's highest rate of HIV infection," he said during a visit to the tiny southern African kingdom.
Swaziland and Botswana have populations of one million and 1.7 million respectively. Neighbouring South Africa, with its much larger population, has the most individuals with HIV/AIDS, at more than five million.
With backing from the United States and other key donors, diamond-rich Botswana has tackled AIDS head-on, leading the way in supplying free anti-retroviral drugs which help slow the onset of full-blown AIDS and reduce the chances of infection.
But Swaziland's King Mswati III and his government have attracted criticism for being slow to recognise the threat of AIDS and fight the spread of HIV.
Mr Lewis used his three-day visit to brief Mr Mswati, who declared a humanitarian disaster in February over a drought and the effects of HIV/AIDS.
He praised Swaziland's initial steps towards introducing anti-retrovirals and recommended further steps, such as offering blood tests to every user of medical facilities.
He said he last visited Swaziland four years ago.
"Back then, 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the beds at Mbabane government hospital were filled with AIDS patients.
"Today, doctors said the figure is 90 per cent. It is a manifestation of the havoc brought by the pandemic." - (Reuters)