In January, we received a letter from Dr. Phetsile K. Dlamini, Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Swaziland, responding to an article published in the Baltimore Sun . Swaziland, located between South Africa and Mozambique, has been ineffective at responding to the AIDS epidemic thus far. The latest measures involved parliament banning miniskirts in schools to reduce sex between teachers and students. Out of a population of one million, an estimated 22 percent are infected with HIV, and 40 percent of all pregnant women are HIV-positive. According to Christabel Motsa, chairwoman of the government's crisis committee on disease, people there are afraid to talk about AIDS and deny that it is a problem.
Tradition is hard to overcome, as the kingdom is ruled by a monarch with seven wives.
Polygamy is rampant in rural areas, and contraceptives are ignored. King Mswati declared HIV a national disaster last year and has urged HIV testing, but proposals to place HIV-infected people in camps or sterile them highlight the mindset of the kingdom. Without frank talk about AIDS, little prevention or treatment can be reached. Motsa is worried that her group's five-year plan to fight AIDS will be overshadowed by odd suggestions from lawmakers. The nation's plan will center on AIDS prevention and education of traditional leaders.