ESWATINI’S HEALTHCARE CRISIS: HOW THE SYSTEM FAILS ITS PEOPLE

In Eswatini, the healthcare system is collapsing under the weight of neglect, underfunding, and poor governance. While the monarchy enjoys lavish spending on luxury items and ceremonies, hospitals and clinics across the country are left struggling to provide even the most basic care. This growing crisis has pushed citizens to the brink, highlighting the need for systemic reform and prioritization of public health.

Public healthcare facilities are in a dire state. Essential medicines are frequently out of stock, forcing patients to either forgo treatment or seek care at private facilities they cannot afford. Equipment failures and shortages further hinder the ability of healthcare workers to provide adequate care, leaving many patients to suffer unnecessarily. For those living in rural areas, access to healthcare is even more limited, with the nearest clinic often hours away and ill-equipped to handle emergencies.

Healthcare workers are the backbone of the system, yet they face immense challenges. Underpaid and overworked, many nurses, doctors, and support staff have staged strikes and protests to demand better wages and working conditions. These demonstrations are often met with indifference from the government, which has consistently failed to address the root causes of the crisis. The lack of support has led to a mass exodus of skilled professionals, further weakening the system.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic adds another layer of complexity to the healthcare crisis. Eswatini has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, yet access to antiretroviral therapy remains inconsistent. Stockouts of life-saving medication are a regular occurrence, putting thousands of lives at risk. Public health campaigns that could educate citizens about prevention and treatment are underfunded, leaving vulnerable populations without the information they need to protect themselves.

Women and children are particularly affected by the healthcare crisis. Maternal mortality rates remain high due to a lack of prenatal care and skilled birth attendants. Pediatric care is often inadequate, with children missing out on vaccinations and basic health screenings. These gaps in care perpetuate cycles of poverty and illness, undermining the nation’s future.

While the healthcare crisis worsens, the monarchy continues to prioritize spending on its own luxuries. Resources that could be used to improve hospitals and clinics are instead diverted to fund royal ceremonies, extravagant international trips, and a growing fleet of luxury cars. This mismanagement of public funds is not just a failure of governance—it is a betrayal of the people.

Despite these challenges, citizens are fighting back. Grassroots organizations, advocacy groups, and community leaders have stepped in where the government has failed, providing education, support, and limited healthcare services. Their efforts highlight the resilience of ordinary Swazis who refuse to accept the status quo.

The international community must step in to support Eswatini’s struggling healthcare system. Global organizations can provide funding, medical supplies, and technical expertise to address immediate needs while pushing the government to commit to long-term reform. Advocacy groups can amplify the voices of healthcare workers and citizens, ensuring that their demands for better care are heard.

The healthcare crisis in Eswatini is not just a symptom of poor governance—it is a moral failing of a regime that prioritizes its own interests over the well-being of its people. Fixing this system requires more than money; it requires political will and a commitment to justice. Every Swazi deserves access to quality healthcare, and the fight to make that a reality is a fight for the soul of the nation.

The people of Eswatini cannot wait any longer. Their health and their lives depend on change, and the time for that change is now. Together, citizens and advocates must continue to push for a healthcare system that serves the people, not the elite. It is a fight worth waging, for it is a fight for life itself.