Eswatini and the United States government have signed a landmark five-year bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the Kingdom’s healthcare system, especially for a sustainable HIV response.
The MoU will provide a combined total of US$242 million (E4 billion) in funding, with the United States committing to provide US$205 million (approximately E3.48 billion) over the five-year period.
Government of Eswatini pledged to increase its own domestic health budget by US$37 million (E625 million), gradually assuming greater financial responsibility as US support diminishes over the life of the agreement.
The signing ceremony, which took place yesterday at the American Corner in the Mbabane National Library, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the collaboration between the United States and Eswatini.
The MoU, covering the period from 2026 to 2030, will provide a robust framework for addressing public health challenges, with particular focus on emerging and existing infectious diseases, and strengthening national health systems.
It underscores the strong and enduring partnership between the two nations, with a shared commitment to improving health outcomes and building a more resilient health infrastructure in Eswatini.
Minister for Economic Planning and Development Dr Tambo Gina, in his remarks, emphasised the historical and ongoing partnership between the two countries.
He reflected on the long-standing diplomatic ties, which dated back to September 6, 1968, when Eswatini gained its independence. Since then, the United States has been a key development partner, particularly in areas such as health, trade, and security.
“The United States remains Eswatini’s largest bilateral partner, providing substantial external aid each year,” Dr Gina remarked.
He added that since 2005, the US government invested nearly US$900 million (around E15.3 billion) in the Kingdom, with a significant portion directed towards improving health outcomes, especially in the fight against HIV and tuberculosis.
He observed that this cooperation had yielded impressive results.
Over the past 15 years, more than 96% of Eswatini’s population living with HIV have received life-saving antiretroviral treatment, which had dramatically increased life expectancy in the country from 42.5 years in 2005 to 60.7 years in 2020.
Furthermore, the Kingdom made substantial progress in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which has plummeted from a peak of 3 300 cases per year to just 34 in recent years.
The new MoU, Dr Gina said, “represents another critical milestone in our partnership, as we continue to advance our health systems and work towards a healthier, more prosperous Eswatini.”
One of the key aspects of the MoU is its emphasis on sustainability.
Gina highlighted that Eswatini is committed to gradually increasing its domestic health expenditure to ensure the long-term viability of the health interventions initiated under the MoU.
This will ensure that the country remains on a path of health resilience even after the MoU expires in 2030.
“We will continue to allocate domestic funding to support priority health interventions and build national ownership of the health programmes,” he added.
Meanwhile, United States Embassy in Eswatini Chargé d’affaires Marc Weinstock expressed his gratitude for the continued cooperation and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the Kingdom’s health agenda.
“This MoU marks a new chapter in our cooperation on health – a foundation for security, prosperity, and many other shared goals between our nations,” Weinstock said.
“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Eswatini and remain committed to supporting the Kingdom’s efforts to build a resilient, self-sustaining health system.”
He emphasised that the MoU directly supported Eswatini’s goals for a sustainable HIV response, as articulated in the National Multisectoral HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework.
This alignment ensured that the funding and efforts under the MoU are not only addressing immediate health needs but also contributing to long-term, sustainable solutions for HIV management in the Kingdom.
The agreement is the result of extensive consultations between the two governments, which took place throughout October and November.
The discussions focused on aligning both countries’ priorities and ensuring that the new MoU effectively addresses both immediate and long-term health needs.
Moreover, the MoU would strengthen the country’s health institutions, systems, and workforce capacity, making them more capable of responding to the health needs of the population.
The United States’ investment in Eswatini’s health sector is a reflection of its broader commitment to advancing global health goals, particularly those related to infectious disease control and prevention.
The MoU supports Eswatini’s continued progress towards meeting global health targets, including the ambitious UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals, which aim to diagnose 95% of people living with HIV, treat 95% of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression in 95% of those treated by 2030.
“We are proud of the progress that Eswatini has made in the fight against HIV and tuberculosis, and we look forward to continuing our support to help the Kingdom reach these important global health milestones,” Weinstock added.
