FOCUS
Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Alleviating Hunger

MDGs ADDRESSED
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
MDG 8: Create a global partnership for development

OVERVIEW
Swaziland has the world's highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS. With a population of about one million, an incredible 38% are currently infected with the HIV virus. The situation has been declared a national disaster. Close to 20,000 people are dying each year from AIDS-related illnesses in Swaziland. The country’s life expectancy has dropped to 33 years as a direct result of the disease. An estimated 15% of households are headed by children.

Eighty percent of Swaziland’s population survives on subsistence agriculture. However, only 10% of the land is arable, and drought, floods, and overgrazing have depleted the soil. Close to 70% of the people live on less than USD $1 per day and approximately 40% of the population is unemployed.

Our PARTNER
Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Diocese of Swaziland, which is part of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. Seventy percent of Swaziland's population is Christian, and one-fifth are members of the Anglican Church. There are 22 parishes and missions, as well as smaller congregations spread throughout the country.

Our CURRENT PROGRAMS
Episcopal Relief and Development is fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS while working to improve the lives of people affected by the disease. Episcopal Relief and Development is ensuring that the most vulnerable—those living with AIDS and orphans—have a safety net that includes health care as well as direct food support.

Episcopal Relief and Development is also training communities in improved agricultural practices that will increase their crop production and allow families to feed themselves and care for vulnerable child-headed households.

Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
Episcopal Relief and Development is caring for people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS and working to ensure long-term support for the children left behind. Episcopal Relief and Development is also fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS by providing prevention education through churches and community networks.

• Home-based care teams in six parishes ensure that people with HIV/AIDS receive care kits with basic medicines and food supplements.
• Soup kitchens in seven parishes provide orphans and vulnerable children with meals on weekends and school holidays.
• HIV/AIDS awareness workshops train clergy and community leaders to teach prevention methods, decrease stigma, provide counseling to those affected by AIDS including orphans, and encourage people to seek voluntary testing and treatment.
• A comprehensive prevention awareness campaign teaches young people how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.

Alleviating Hunger
Episcopal Relief and Development is focusing on activities in communities severely affected by HIV/AIDS to improve the food supply and support children who have been orphaned by the disease. These programs will be piloted in three prioritized communities in the western, eastern, and southern archdeaconries with the goal of reaching eleven parishes.

• Community gardening increases the incomes of families while ensuring nutritious food for orphans and people on antiretroviral treatment to fight HIV/AIDS.
• Agricultural training teaches young people effective farming methods including how to clear land, construct irrigation systems, and plant and care for crops so that they can feed and sustain themselves.
• Livestock farming with goats and chickens provides sources of food and opportunities to earn additional income by selling eggs and milk.
• Support and counseling enables 250 orphans and vulnerable children to continue in school.

Our PAST ACHIEVEMENTS
Episcopal Relief and Development partnered with the Diocese of Swaziland to provide prevention education, care and support for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including:

• Presenting a series of workshops to empower the clergy and lay leaders on HIV/AIDS issues.
• Supporting the Mother's Union, the largest Anglican women's organization in Swaziland, as they provided care, food, and support to HIV/AIDS patients and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS from their center in Manzini.
• Establishing a Parish Nursing Program to provide home-based care in conjunction with rural health motivators.