Eswatini News

22 September 2015 - Swaziland held a 2 days meeting to orient parliamentarians on topical public health issues in the country. The parliamentarians were oriented on the Universal Health Coverage concept which is the main theme of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2014-2018. They were also oriented on tobacco control in the country. The meeting also included discussions on addressing social determinants of health as well as the burden of non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases and malaria in the country.

Mbabane, 16 February 2016 - While endeavouring to achieve Universal Health Coverage, which is the goal of the newly formulated National Health Strategic Plan 2014-2018, the Ministry of Health has visited Ethiopia to learn about their best health practices.

16 June 2016, Mbabane: Dr Tigest Ketsela Mengestu presented her letter of credence to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Senator Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze at his offices in Mbabane on the 16th of June 2016. This followed her confirmation and appointment as the Head of Mission and Representative to the WHO Swaziland country office.  Her appointment is with effect from the 15th of April 2016.

16 March,  Mbabane, Swaziland - AS the country battles with an increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), the World Health Organization has donated E650 000 worth of equipment and consumables for the diagnosis and treatment of NCDs.

16 March 2017, Mbabane, Swaziland - Hundreds of residents from Nkwene in the Shiselweni region received free ear screening and treatment during the World Hearing Day on March 3. The event was held at Nkwene Inkhundla and was aimed at raising awareness among communities, community leaders, parents, teachers, health professionals, and policy makers about hearing care and how to prevent debilitating hearing loss. The theme for this year was “Action for hearing loss: Make a sound investment”.

4 April  2017 - Mbabane Swaziland:As Swaziland joined the rest of the world in commemorating World TB Day, the Honourable Minister of Health Senator Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane commissioned the national drug resistance survey. “Both the TB and HIV Drug Resistance Surveys that Swaziland is currently conducting will play a critical role in addressing the effectiveness of regimens prescribed for TB and/or HIV patients” noted the United States of America Ambassador to Swaziland Ms Lisa Peterson.

12 May - Mbabane: The Kingdom of Swaziland joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the 7th Africa Vaccination Week (AVW) under the theme “Vaccines Protect Everyone, Get Vaccinated”. The week long commemoration was launched by the Honourable Minister of Health, Senator Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane represented by the Deputy Director of Health Services, Ms Rejoice Nkambule. The launch was held in Hosea Inkhundla, a “hard to reach” area in the Shiselweni Region.

Mbabane, Swaziland 25 May - The Kingdom of Swaziland completed a two weeks long first ever joint review of four programmes; Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB), Viral Hepatitis prevention and control as well as Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV(PMTCT). This is in line with the country’s plan to strengthen integration of the four programmes. Currently the programmes have separate strategic plans. For example: the HIV Health Sector Response Plan runs from 2014 – 2018 and the TB National Strategic Plan runs from 2015 – 2019.