MBABANE: Khanya Mabuza, the Director of the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) says Gender Based Violence (GBV) increases women\'s risk of HIV acquisition.
Speaking during the World AIDS Day Commemoration at the United Nations Eswatini residence in Mbabane on Tuesday, the NERCHA Director said ending AIDS will not be possible without advancing gender equality.
\"Gender Based Violence is an opportunistic factor and can set the country back from the gains made in the response to HIV and AIDS.Gender-based Violence has been shown to increase women\'s risk of HIV acquisition.The end of AIDS will not be possible without advancing gender equality.Men must be engaged to challenge harmful norms and gender inequalities,which perpetuate the risks and vulnerabilities of both men and adolescent boys,”he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary(PS) during the event, Muhle Dlamini, the Program Manager at the Swaziland National AIDS Programme (SNAP) said the country has made significant gains in the fight against the AIDS epidemic but despite all these strides,the country suffered certain setbacks including Gender Based Violence (GBV).
“Despite all these strides,we have suffered certain setbacks in other aspects of human progress.These include teenage pregnancy,Gender Based Violence and Femicide\", he said.
NERCHA Directo Khanya Mabuza(R) during the World AIDS Day commemoration at the UN residence.