Swaziland: Shortage of Funds to Fight Ignorance and Disease -- AIDS and HIV

Swaziland's HIV rate is the world's highest. More than one-fourth of adults are HIV-positive, and approximately half of the deaths of children under five are virus-related. And, despite governmental efforts, Swazis' grasp of HIV/AIDS information remains poor.

Cultural mores concerning sexuality worsen matters. According to a spokesman for the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organizations, "When a western [non-governmental organization] puts out a message about condoms, someone turns up on radio ... and says, 'Don't be silly, our job is to produce children.'"

Although a campaign encouraging adult male circumcision -- funded by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- fell short of its target, the promotion of infant male circumcision is faring better. Seventy-eight percent of those needing antiretrovirals (ARVs) are now covered, and testing can be conducted domestically.