PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHES 2025 WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION
Thursday, 30 October 2025
Ezulwini - The Right Honourable Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has officially launched the 2025 World AIDS Day commemorations build up campaigns for the Kingdom of Eswatini under the theme “Eswatini Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
The launch marked the start of the build-up campaigns to be held in the Shiselweni, Lubombo and Manzini regions respectively. The national World AIDS Day 2025 commemoration will be held on the 1st of December 2025 at Hhukwini Inkhundla under the Hhohho region.
In his address the Prime Minister said whilst significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Eswatini, HIV remains a public health threat with around 4000 new infections every and a significant number of people dying of HIV related illnesses.
The premier said the 2025 World AIDS Day launch should be the beginning of a renewed movement, one of hope, solidarity and action in the country’s journey to end AIDS by 2030. He emphasised the need to prioritize HIV prevention to reduce the number of new infections in the country. He called for renewed unity, innovation and courage in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He further urged the nation to integrate HIV care with non-communicable diseases, mental health and reproductive health. He noted that there is also a need to address social and economic factors like poverty and gender-based violence, stressing the need for national ownership and domestic resource mobilisation.
“Transforming the AIDS response requires sustainability and inclusivity. With the global funding cuts threatening years of progress, Eswatini must boldly move towards national ownership and domestic resource mobilisation,” the premier said about this year’s theme. He reiterated that while the country has made major strides in the fight against HIV, but the battle is not won yet hence there is no time for complacency.
Guests during the launch included the Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula, the UN Family, Country Directors of development partners, representatives of the private sector, uniformed forces, civil society, people living with HIV and many others.
The launched was marked with a panel discussion which unpacked what this year’s WAD theme means to the different sectors of the response, given that it comes at a time where there have been disruptions in HIV prevention programs and community lead initiatives due to funding cuts.
The launch concluded with the Prime Minister leading a candlelight in honour of those who have been lost in the battle against HIV and AIDS, as well as standing with those living with HIV.
