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AIDS Programmes
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National Strategic Framework: 2005-2008
Epidemiological Assessment:
Major vulnerable and affected groups
Recent studies indicate that the people mostly affected include young people, and especially teenage girls and people 20–29 years old; people with sexually transmitted infections; former miners; migrant labourers; factory workers; unemployed people; and female sex workers. Most people living with HIV/AIDS are women. Data from five major sentinel surveillance sites show a steady upward trend in the proportion of pregnant women 20–24 years old testing HIV positive. The HIV prevalence rate among people attending antenatal care and care services for sexually transmitted infections has increased over time. The prevalence among people attending services for sexually transmitted infections increased from 5–7% in 1991 to 35–63% in 2000. The prevalence among people attending antenatal care increased from 0.7–5% in 1991 to 16–42% in 2000.
Policy on HIV testing and treatment
Lesotho supports a comprehensive approach that integrates HIV prevention, care and treatment. HIV testing and counselling is considered central to this strategy, serving as a key entry point to all three services. In March 2004, the government initiated a policy of universal voluntary counselling and testing and launched a national campaign to encourage the people of Lesotho to know their HIV status. A National Operational Plan to Achieve Universal Access to HIV Testing and Counselling by the end of 2007 was launched in December 2005. National antiretroviral therapy guidelines and HIV/AIDS testing and counselling manuals have been developed in accordance with international standards. Nongovernmental organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, bilateral and multilateral partners and community-based organizations all worked closely with the government to develop the Policy Framework on HIV/AIDS Prevention, Control and Management and the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (2002–2005).
Critical issues and major challenges
Despite clear strategies proposed in the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan, inadequate skills and financial resources have compromised the translation of the strategies into specific plans for implementation. Training various categories of health workers is critical for scaling up access to testing and counselling and post-test services. Strategies to roll out the provision of antiretroviral therapy from hospitals to health centres need to be reinforced. Laboratory capacity to diagnose and monitor the people receiving antiretroviral therapy needs to be strengthened. Limited access to essential drugs, high drug prices, lack of services for preventing mother-to-child transmission, an inadequate communication strategy on HIV/AIDS and inadequate clinical management of people living with HIV/AIDS comprise other critical challenges.
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HIV/AIDS Organisations
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 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW)
Department of Health |
| Contact person: |
Nthabiseng Mabitle |
Tel: |
+266 22 314 404 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 514
Maseru 100, Lesotho |
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+266 22 322 180 |
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Fax: |
+266 22 310 667 |
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Web: |
www.lesotho.gov.ls |
| What we do: |
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| Lesotho AIDS Programme Coordinating Authority (LAPCA) |
| Contact person: |
Mrs Monaheng, Director |
Tel: |
+266 22 326 794 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 11232, Maseru 100, Lesotho |
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+266 22 322 180 |
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Fax: |
+266 22 327 210 |
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+266 22 323 010 |
| What we do: |
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| Care Lesotho |
| Contact person: |
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Tel: |
+266 22 314 398 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 682
Maseru 100, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 310 195 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
www.caresa-lesotho.org.za |
| What we do: |
Working with civil society, private sector and government partners to develop strategies for HIV/AIDS mitigation for vulnerable groups. |
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| Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL) |
| Contact person: |
Agnes Lephoto |
Tel: |
+266 22 312 500 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 1632
Maseru 140, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 310 314 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
Medical care; advice; support; exchange of information; access to resources; policy influence and advocacy; capacity building and providing technical assistance on HIV/AIDS. |
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| The Green Crescent Trust |
| Contact person: |
Dr Abdul Elgoni and Dawood Ponoane |
Tel: |
+266 22 866 923 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 0838
Maseru 105, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 310 322 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
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| Lesotho Network of AIDS Service Organisations (LENASO) |
| Contact person: |
Mrs Lois Sebatane |
Tel: |
+266 22 322 038 (Ext. 3971) |
| Location: |
P. O. Box 553, Ladybrand 9745, South Africa |
Fax: |
+266 22 340 000 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
www.sanaso.org.zw |
| What we do: |
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| Maseru Children’s Village |
| Contact person: |
Mr. Lawrence Masupha, MCV, manager |
Tel: |
+266 22 322 559 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 151, Maseru 100 |
Fax: |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
HIV/AIDS orphanage; networking; care and support; advocacy; capacity building and providing technical assistance. |
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| Positive Action - Lesotho |
| Contact person: |
Ingo Seifert |
Tel: |
+266 22 885 0069 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 1895
Maseru 100, Lesotho |
Fax: |
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Email: |
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Web: |
www.positive-action.org |
| What we do: |
Fund-raising and income generation activities; information dissemination; self-help groups; skills building. |
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| Contact person: |
Red Cross Society - Lesotho |
Tel: |
+266 22 313 911 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 366, Maseru 100 |
Fax: |
+266 22 310 166 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
Training; technical assistance; education; information; awareness; support; care; income generation activities; advocacy. |
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| Population Services International (PSI) |
| Contact person: |
Aaron Maselwane, programme manager |
Tel: |
+266 22 236 825 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 15863
Maseru, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 311 200 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
Uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives. |
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| Society of Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) |
| Contact person: |
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Tel: |
+266 22 311 906 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 200
Maseru, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 323 092 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
Counselling; training; education; information; awareness; support; care; income generation activities; advocacy. |
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| UNAIDS Country Co-ordinator |
| Contact person: |
Mahesh Mahalingam |
Tel: |
+266 22 313 790 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 301
Maseru 100, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 313 571 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
www.unaids.org |
| What we do: |
UNAIDS leads, strengthens and supports an expanded response aimed at preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS. |
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| Expanded UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, Chair |
| Contact person: |
Ms Angela Benson, WHO representative |
Tel: |
+266 22 313 790 |
| Location: |
P.O. Box 301
Maseru 100, Lesotho |
Fax: |
+266 22 310 042 |
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Email: |
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Web: |
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| What we do: |
Supports an expanded response and policy advice on preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS. |
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| Sources: |
- National literacy surveys
- The Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
- The World Bank
- World Health Organization
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Country Profiles
- United Nations Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2005. “World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision.” New York.
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
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Treatment Map
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| Adult HIV Prevalence Rate (%): |
23.2% |
| No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: |
270,000 |
| No. Of HIV Testing & Counseling Sites: |
102 |
| No. Of People in need of ART (Oct. 2006): |
49,400 |
| No. Of People on ART (as of March 2006): |
9700 |
| No. Of Sites Reportedly Distributing ART (Oct. 2006): |
19 |
| No. Of People on ART Private Sector or NGOs: |
n/a. All private facilities and NGOs source their ARVs from the government, free of charge |
| No. Of People Expected to be on ART (2006 End) (Oct. 2006): |
approx. 18,000 |
| Front Line Drug Regimen: |
lamivudine-zidovudine-nevirapine (or efavirenz) |
| *PMTCT Regimen: |
nevirapine |
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| HIV/AIDS Fund Disbursements: |
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| Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund as of Sept. 2006: |
US$11,900,385 |
| Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP) as of Sept. 2006: |
nil |
| Sources: |
National Estimates, Government of Lesotho/UNAIDS |
Indicators
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| Demographics (United Nations Population Fund): |
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| Population: |
1,795,000 |
| Population aged 15-59: |
968,000 |
| Urban population: |
327,000 |
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| Under 5 mortality per 1000 births: |
123 |
| Male life expectancy: |
39 years |
| Female life expectancy: |
44 years |
| Combined average life expectancy: |
41.5 years |
| Combined average life expectancy 1975-1980: |
51.7 years |
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| Education (UNESCO, 2004): |
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| Males with secondary education as percentage of secondary school-age youths: |
32 percent |
| Females with secondary education as percentage of secondary school-age youths: |
41 percent |
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| Literacy rates (UNESCO, 2004): |
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| Percentage of literate males aged 15 or older: |
73.7 percent |
| Percentage of literate females aged 15 or older: |
90.3 percent |
| Combined literacy rate for aged 15 or older: |
81.4 percent |
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