By Musa Mdluli

ENGABEZWENI: King Mswati’s HIV prevention Swaziland News positive story, urging eMajaha to prioritize their health even after taking the new Lenacapavir drug, will now be part of some global HIV/AIDS global newsletters.

This comes after Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini granted Canadian HIV/AIDS activist Bradford McIntyre permission to re-publish the article in Canada and other countries.

McIntyre wrote to the editor seeking permission after reading the article where the King was addressing thousands of eMajaha (men) on various issues of national importance, he made a commitment to credit the Swaziland News as the original publisher of the story.

When addressing eMabutfo at Engabezweni Royal Residence on Saturday, the King touched on the importance of prioritizing health and thanked the United States (US) Government for thinking about Eswatini when officially launching the Lenacapavir PrEP drug.

Bradford McIntyre of Positively Positive is an HIV prevention Global Advocate living in Canada, providing HIV-related news, resources and raising awareness.

On another note, the Swaziland News is Eswatini’s globally recognized independent online publication publishing both critical and other news of public interest.

Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa, has a positive world record in the fight against HIV/AIDS after reducing new HIV infections.

King Mswati was previously applauded for playing a significant role in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he declared the virus “Indzaba Yetfu Sonkhe” over twenty (20) years ago, resulting to emaSwati, Government and privately owned companies coming together to fight HIV/AIDS.

Companies and Government introduced HIV prevention including anti-discrimination policies in the workplace, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) , behavior change programs and the importance of taking Antiretroviral (ARVs) after testing positive.

The media, after wide consultation with stakeholders, introduced the non-disclosure of emaSwati’s HIV status without consent as part of journalism ethics and this, was done in an effort to contribute to positive change in the fight against HIV/AIDS.