urban areas as infrastructure ages and water
treatment systems disintegrate or are simply unable
to keep up with population growth. Cholera is no
respecter of international borders and is frequently
passed between countries, requiring a coordinated
and multilateral approach to preparedness and
response.
There are knock-on effects on care-seeking
behaviours: households are prioritizing limited
financial resources to buy food rather than pay for
travel to a health facility. There are also reports of
decreasing numbers of pregnant women presenting
to give birth at health facilities, risking higher rates of
maternal and neonatal deaths and mother-to-child
transmission of HIV. Individuals requiring chronic
care – such as those on ART and TB treatment,
experience interruptions in life-saving therapy.
HIV AND TB CO-INFECTION
The region remains the global epicentre of the AIDS pandemic. In 2015, nine countries – Botswana,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe - had adult HIV
prevalence of over 10 per cent. At an estimated 28.8 per cent, Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence
in the world, followed by Botswana (23.4 per cent) and Lesotho (22.3 per cent). These countries are part
of the 35 priority `Fast-Track’ countries of UNAIDS’ strategy 2016-2021 and for ending AIDS globally by
2030. Similarly, the region continues to face HIV/TB co-infection with TB remaining the leading cause of
death among people living with HIV. For example, percentage of HIV positive patients with TB co-infection
is 73 per cent in Swaziland, 72 per cent in Lesotho and 68 per cent in Zimbabwe. El Niño disruption of
Adult HIV Prevalence
Source: SADC
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