So many people are dying of
AIDS-related illness that one town in Swaziland / eSwatini is running out of
burial space, an online newspaper reported.
The shortage of medicines
for many illnesses caused by the government financial crisis is being blamed
for some of the increase in deaths.
Apollo Maphalala, Nhlangano
Town Council chief executive officer, said graves were being dug in readiness
for expected deaths. ‘In Swazi culture this is not allowed, however we prepare
the graves to accommodate the demand. We are aware of the drug shortages that
might have resulted to the demand, but to us this is just providing a service,’
he said.
Mandla Sibandze, a
Nhlangano town councillor, told the newspaper, ‘Many people are dying these
days and as the town council, we are running short of a burial space. I may not
be sure of the real causes of the deaths but most of them are related to
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and cancer.’
The newspaper reported, ‘It
has been confirmed that the Nhlangano Town Council charged E500 (US$33) for
burial space and business has been booming since the health crisis erupted
resulting in government failure to provide sufficient drugs in hospitals thus
causing more deaths.’
Dr Simon Zwane, the
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, told the
newspaper Swaziland had a shortage of drugs in hospitals including ARVs for people
living with HIV. He also said the number of people falling sick in the kingdom
was increasing.
‘The number of diabetic
people and those suffering from hypertension has increased; it is difficult to
even give you an accurate number as it keeps on increasing. We are also faced
with shortage of ARVs as you have seen that our government has a cash flow
problem.’
Suppliers have been left
unpaid. It is estimated the Swazi Government owes them about E3 billion. There
are shortages in health, education and other public services.
The Swaziland News
interviewed a local woman Sophie Maziya who said senior citizens were most
affected by the medicine shortages. ‘As senior citizens above the age of 60, we
are expected to receive free medical treatment, however that doesn’t help us in
any way because there are no drugs in hospitals. When I visited the hospital
recently I was informed that there were no drugs for diabetes, I had to buy
from the pharmacy. A friend of mine who was diabetic died early this year, she
was neglected by her children and couldn’t afford to buy the diabetics medication
from the pharmacy.’
The financial crisis in the
kingdom ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch has been continuing for
years. At
least six children were
reported to have died from diarrhoea in August 2019. Drugs to treat them were
unavailable.
In August 2019 the Ministry of Health confirmed in its
first quarter
performance report delivered to the Swazi parliament that drugs had run out
and there were shortages of nurses, midwives and other health professionals.
Fuel frequently ran out and ambulances and other vehicles had broken down.
Part of the report stated, ‘While most patients were
negatively affected, highly impacted patients were those on psychiatric
medication, which stocked out for longer periods and those taking
anti-hypertensive treatment. The main cause for stock-outs is failure to pay
suppliers on time due to the fiscal challenges facing the government.’
In June 2018 it was revealed there were only
12 working public ambulances in the whole of Swaziland because the
government failed to maintain them. It had bought no new ambulances since 2013.
See also
Swaziland cancer patients refused treatment because
Govt. has not paid hospital bills
More deaths in Swaziland as govt fails to pay
medicine suppliers
Food collection points set up in Swaziland as
hospital patients unfed after Govt fails to pay suppliers
HIV
drugs not available across Swaziland as health crisis deepens
Swaziland
health crisis getting worse as budgets cut. Rural areas most affected
Swaziland
health crisis: fearful psychiatric nurses say they might release patients
