SWAZILAND

GOOD SHEPHERD HOSPITAL

Contact Details:
Good Shepherd Hospital
PO Box 2
Siteki
Swaziland
SOUTHERN AFRICA

Hospital Phone Number : +268 3434133

Contact Email :To express your interest in participating in our student program, please e-mail Dr Jonathan Pons

Please visit our web site for more information:
http://www.goodshepherdhosp.org/

Swaziland is a small dot on the map in southern Africa, bordered by South Africa to the north, south, and west and by Mozambique to the east. It is the smallest country in southern Africa covering about 17,364 sq. km, approximately the size of Wales UK, or New Jersey USA (depending on where you are from)

The two largest cities are Mbabane (capital of government) and Manzini (capital of commerce). These cities are the centre of everything in Swaziland. They have some Western style shops, and you can buy just about anything you require from cucumbers to CD-burners. Outside the Mbabne-Manzini axis, the land is sparsely settled and mainly consists of protected natural reserves, farmland, sugar cane fields (the country's largest export), timber plantations, and spaced out homesteads.

Swaziland became independent from Britain in 1968 under the authority of King Sobhuza II. It is one of few remaining monarchies in the world. The current King, Mswati III serves as the ruler and executive head of state. The King is advised by the prime minister, who in turn presides over a 16-member cabinet running Swaziland's bicameral national council. The Senate has 30 seats, 20 appointed by the king. The House of Assembly has 55 delegates, 10 appointed by the king.

The population of Swaziland is estimated to be 991,725 (from a 1997 census). The Swazis comprise approximately 97% of the population of Swaziland; the remainders are immigrants from Mozambique, South Africa and other parts of the worlds. The official languages are both SiSwati and English; SiSwati is spoken almost universally, but English is spoken in all the centres of commerce.