MBABANE, Eswatini – The U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Caitlin Piper and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Regional Associate Director Dr. Catherine McLean toured clinics in Eswatini last week in a visit highlighting the U.S. government’s commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS.
Their visit to the Mafutseni Nazarene clinic and the Emphilweni community pharmacy in Ngculwini showcased the impact of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. PEPFAR is a longstanding U.S. government initiative supporting partner countries in the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).
Dr. McLean gained firsthand experience of the strong partnership between the U.S. and Eswatini in tackling these diseases. The clinics highlighted innovative approaches, such as “one-stop shop” services providing adolescent girls and young women with youth-friendly HIV-prevention and reproductive health care. The partnerships with private pharmacies have enabled the distribution of free HIV self-test kits, increasing access to testing.
 Regional Associate Director Dr. Catherine McLean toured clinics in Eswatini last week in a visit highlighting the U.S. government's commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS.){kind=link}