Geneva – Minister of Health of Eswatini Mduduzi Matsebula stressed the country’s rise in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, as reversing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) gains and called for investments in primary health care.
The minister said the rise of NCDs affects significant gains in some of the SDG indicators, including HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal and neonatal mortality.
“We still face a rising number of NCDs,” he said. 
He continued: “We are strengthening primary health care as the cornerstone for achieving universal health coverage.”
NCDs are a growing public health concern in Eswatini, accounting for over half of all fatalities, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) NCD Surveillance Data. The prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cervical cancer is concerning.
WHO also classifies Eswatini as now confronting a dual health challenge in its efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS as a public health disaster by 2030, as well as the rising NCD problem.
Matsebula has continued to call for the strengthening of primary health care, stating that it is the most cost-effective and equitable foundation for universal health coverage. Since the Assembly began on Monday and ends on Saturday, he has been saying that every dollar invested in community care returns manifold by strengthening resilience and preparedness.
He also thanked the state of world health report presented by the WHO Director General, which he said was “thoughtfully crafted” to reflect this year’s assembly theme, and said, “The DG’s report provides insight into the work of WHO and achievements made in the past 12 months. In the three priorities of the 14th General Program of Work, WHO has continued to support our member states towards achieving the 2030 SDGs, particularly pandemic and emergency preparedness in Eswatini.”
Matsebula also reaffirmed and acknowledged Eswatini’s long-standing partnership with Taiwan, advocating for its inclusion in the WHA.
He said essential technical mechanisms, such as the pandemic agreement and the international health regulations, emphasise that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires ensuring that no one is left behind and that it is a collective responsibility.
“We align ourselves with the African Union speech for health sovereignty, which is grounded in a coherent integrated approach that strengthens Africa’s capacity to lead, coordinate…” he said.
