Manglen på hiv-medicin i Swaziland har skabt grobund for politisk aktivisme, hvor demonstranter i disse dage indtager gaderne i protest.
Selv om Afrikas ældste monarki ikke tillader en formel politisk opposition har mangel på medicin mod den farlige virus og utilfredshed med politikerne fået hiv-smittede ud i protest.
MBABANE, 13 December 2011 (IRIN): A new wave of HIV activism is rising in Swaziland as people living with HIV take to the streets in protest, many for the first time in their lives, over continued shortages of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.
Swaziland ‘s deepening financial crisis is taking a toll on service delivery, and the country is experiencing an unprecedented number of protests over issues such as school closures and a lack of HIV treatment. While Africa’s last absolute monarchy does not allow formal political opposition to operate, a new brand of HIV activism may be taking hold as anger mounts over a lack of ARVs.
“People living with HIV and AIDS are more politically active,” said Thandi Nkambule, director of the Swaziland Network for People with HIV and AIDS (SWANEPHA), an umbrella body. He noted that there are similarities between Swaziland’s newfound HIV activism and established movements in neighbouring South Africa.
“The leaders of the HIV support groups are joining the marches because they know that [government] leadership lacks the political will to meet the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS.” About a quarter of all adult Swazis are living with HIV and about 47,000 patients nationally were on ARVs at the end of 2009, according to UNAIDS.
Shortages of HIV programme supplies in Swaziland began making headlines in mid-2011. Media reports have largely attributed stock-outs to reduced revenues from the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), but the country also opted not to apply for funding in Round 10 from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Instead, it chose to assume financial responsibility for HIV treatment itself, at a time when SACU revenues were already projected to decline. Domestic funding has proved insufficient to back this decision.
Læs videre på: http://www.plusnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportID=94456
