MBABANE: King Mswati is highly concerned about the ongoing shortage of drugs in public health institutions in the country and as a result, efforts are being made to address the health crisis.
Responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News on Saturday,
Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson said, the King has been passionate about the health system such that, he even fundraised to end and/or reduce the Human Immune Virus, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome(HIV/AIDS) in the Kingdom of eSwatini. The Spokesperson was asked to clarify the King’s speech where he made it clear during the official opening of the Ezulwini Private Hospital that, he was concerned with the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
“He has always been concerned about the availability of drugs in all hospitals and for every disease such that soon after his Coronation in 1986 he personally started fundraising to combat HIV/AIDS through what used to be called King's Trust Music Festival.His efforts later became the basis of free retroviral drugs for ninety-four(94%) of people living with HIV. The last six-percent(6%) were people who didn't need to be on those drugs yet”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
Simelane said, as a result of the King’s efforts, Eswatini reduced new infections by fifty-percent(50%), three years before the deadline announced by the United Nations(UN) and mother to child infection by one-hundred(100%.).
“Our experience is that it is not necessarily the shortage of State funds that results in drug shortages in our hospitals but failure to replenish stocks in time and looting before and after delivery. We have people behind bars already.Equipment too is stolen, at one point a E5million machine that was intended for the Mbabane Government Hospital was stolen on delivery.The State never found it.So as short as to tell the King gets worried when there are no drugs in our hospitals yet the Ministry of Health gets a lion’s share of the state budget.You will recall that before Coronation there was no Phalala Referral Scheme to help deserving patients cross to South Africa for medical attention that may not be available locally, in this country medical care is subsidizes for everyone and those at the age of sixty(60) and above get free medical attention in public hospitals and the don't queue”, said the King’s Spokesperson.
But Lucky Dlamini, the Chairperson of the Swaziland United Democratic Front(SUDF), a coalition of pro-democracy groups, urged the King to reduce the budget for the military and channel the funds to purchase more drugs in public hospitals.
“Our health system is highly funded by the Global Fund and therefore, we urge the King and to reduce the budget for the military, more money must be allocated to health sector and education.We are a small country with no capacity to fight anyone hence funding the military is a financial drain for government. Money fund education and the health system,” said the SUDF Chairperson.
King Mswati.