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.

The National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) is committed in efforts to halt the advance of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Kingdom of Eswatini beyond 2022 in line with the new national slogan of Sicondzene Ngco! Ne HIV/AIDS; Asiyesabi, Focusing on the Fight against AIDS and not the Fright which involves stigma and discrimination. The new slogan was pronounced by His Majesty King Mswati III during the State Opening of the 4th session of the 11th parliament of Eswatini, which replaced the vision of Ending AIDS by 2022.

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.