Swaziland stands alone with the world's highest rate of HIV infection after nearby Botswana made headway against the deadly pandemic
Swaziland is a landlocked country located in southern Africa bordering Mozambique and South Africa – with an area of 17 thousand square kilometers, it is the smallest country in Africa and is slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. Swaziland’s economy very much resembles that of a developing nation with 70% of the population employed in agriculture and a poverty rate of 69%. It has a population of 1.1 million people and GDP of $1.8 billion. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. For example, more than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004-05 because of drought.
Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world and, consequently, also faces one of the biggest challenges in mitigating its effects. While HIV prevalence is either stabilizing or declining in many Sub-Saharan countries, in Swaziland it is still on the increase. As the smallest country in Africa, it does not receive sufficient attention or resources from larger organizations that are working to solve the HIV/AIDS and growing orphan population problems in Africa. The following prevalence rates highlight Swaziland’s extreme situation relative to other countries.
These statistics are even more dire when isolating infection rates to pregnant women aged 15-49. As of 2006, 39.2% of women seeking prenatal care were found to be HIV positive, based on ANC surveillance data.
Against the background of poverty and stagnant economic conditions the impacts of HIV/AIDS are only exacerbated, trapping people in poverty. The 40% unemployment rate, falling incomes and drought, among other factors, have made both the Swazi economy and the Swazi people extremely vulnerable to the impact of HIV/AIDS.
As of 2006, Swaziland had the lowest life expectancy for both males and females in the world (30.8 and 29.2 years, respectively). HIV/AIDS related mortality in the Swazi workforce ranges between 4.80 to 16.75 per 1000 people, depending on the firm and sector. Life expectancy for people infected with HIV/AIDS is approximately 30 years less than those who are not infected (roughly 34 versus 65, respectively). Swaziland’s Human Development Index has been falling primarily due to the 17 year plunge in life expectancy between 1997 and 2003.
The following graph highlights projected deaths in Swaziland for people infected with HIV/AIDS and those who are not.
These grave statistics become even more worrisome when extrapolating what impact these deaths will imply for the future of the country. Already 31% of the population age 18 or younger consists of orphans and/or vulnerable children. By 2015 this number is expected to nearly double to 110,000, as outlined below – and only 41% of the households of these orphans/vulnerable children currently receive free basic external support. The increase in the number of orphans and vulnerable children will have long-term effects on human capital accumulation and your donation to Empower Another will have a direct impact on mitigating this problem.
Please refer to tab "Cabrini/St. Philip's" to learn more about what's being done to mitigate these disastrous consequences and on the tab "About us" to learn how Empower Another aims to help.
Further Resources
NERCHA Swaziland [ http://www.nercha.org.sz ]
UNAids [ http://www.UNAids.org ]
The Socio-Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland [ pdf ]