New platform launched on ending HIV-related stigma and discrimination Despite decades of advances in prevention and treatment, stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV and key populations are a persistent barrier to addressing the epidemic.

By the time kids reach 3rd grade, research shows that as many as 93% have already heard about HIV and AIDS Following the recent celebration of International Youth Day on 12th August 2022, where we spoke about the youth and HIV, more parents shared how they were having it tough speaking to their kids about HIV. Today we seek to help parents initiate conversations with their kids about HIV, without making it a scary subject.

……HIV Prevention services have also aligned themselves to traditional ceremonies After two years of the absence and/or scaling down of the annual Umhlanga Reed dance ceremony, this year spirits are very high among the Imbali regiment as the ceremony is back with full attendance.

By the time kids reach 3rd grade, research shows that as many as 93% have already heard about HIV and AIDS Following the recent celebration of International Youth Day on 12th August 2022, where we spoke about the youth and HIV, more parents shared how they were having it tough speaking to their kids about HIV. Today we seek to help parents initiate conversations with their kids about HIV, without making it a scary subject.

Young people should need proper knowledge on how to protect themselves from HIV The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

Two weeks ago, we commemorated International Breastfeeding week, breastfeeding mothers have been receiving messages of support for their breastfeeding journeys because indeed breast milk is the best source of nutrients.

Transactional sex is not sex work but refers to non-marital, non-commercial sexual relationships motivated by an implicit assumption that sex will be exchanged for material support or other benefits. Most women and men involved in transactional sex relationships consider themselves as partners or lovers rather than sellers or buyers. Conflating transactional sex and sex work in intervention design and funding may be counterproductive, as interventions designed for sex workers will not reach people engaged in transactional sex.

Knowing your HIV status can lead to earlier treatment and prevent sickness. Many people have approached me asking how one can tell if “they have HIV”. I am always taken aback by such questions. Like, what? In 2022? Really? Anyway, the answer is simple. Unlike yester years where certain symptoms pointed to this and that, recently many diseases have similar symptoms, like we saw with COVID-19 presenting flu-like symptoms. It usually isn’t easy to tell whether one has simple flu or it is COVID-19. This therefore makes it very difficult to tell whether it is this disease and not the other. Which is why the only way to find out whether you are HIV positive or not, is to take an HIV test. The same way we take a COVID test to allay fears and clear all suspicion.

Last year the Eswatini HIV Recent Incidence Surveillance (EHRIS), gave alarming results about 10 Tinkhundla which had the highest increase in new HIV infections. This became a cause for concern for the multisectoral HIV response as new infections were higher among adolescent girls and young women. Without a doubt, this means this population is engaging in unprotected sex thereby posing a huge risk to HIV acquisition.

The week has been an eventful one where we celebrated World TB Day and spread messages around the importance of ensuring fast tracked Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) and Tuberculosis (TB) treatment in people living with HIV because, this ultimately saves lives.