Through the U.S. Government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) provided medical supplies and equipment worth $350,000 to His Majesty’s Correctional Services. His Majesty’s Correctional Services are part of the Swaziland Uniformed Services Alliance on HIV/AIDS, which also includes the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), the Royal Swaziland Police, and the National Fire and Emergency Services.
Following a request from the USDF to support the other members of the uniformed services, DoD previously provided technical assistance for the development of an HIV and AIDS Policy for the Correctional Services as well as office equipment to support scaling up of services in prison facilities.
The equipment donated by the U.S. Government is intended to help the Correctional Services Health Services to provide life-saving health care and treatment services to inmates and officers on the ground. HMCS provides comprehensive health care services at its 10 clinics located within Correctional institutions.
The donated supplies and equipment were sourced from Project Cure, a U.S.-based organization. With PEPFAR funding, the U.S. DoD worked closely with Project Cure and local partners to conduct a baseline assessment to determine the types of equipment and supplies health facilities were lacking before proceeding with procurement. PEPFAR funds were also used to pay for the shipping of the supplies from the U.S. to Swaziland. The consignment contains vital equipment for maternal health, child welfare, and general out and in-patient departments. The medical supplies and equipment will be distributed to 10 Correctional Services health care facilities.
This donation represents an important contribution of the United States Government, as well as the generosity of the many individual and institutional American supporters of Project Cure, to the people of Swaziland.
