Makananelo Manamolela
THE Mafeteng district is said to be among the top three districts with the highest cases of new HIV/AIDS infections.
This then compelled the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to commemorate World AIDS Day in the district.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, kicked off with a walk from town to Maphathe Stadium.
AHF’s Country Programme Manager, Nthoesele Letoao, said this year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response”, calls for a renewed response against all challenges hindering the fight against the virus.
She said for over 40 years the country has battled a virus that has left many children orphaned and affected economies across the world. However, she added that Lesotho remains determined to move forward.
“We are hopeful that one day God will look at us in a different way as we finish off this problem. This theme calls us to reflect on the challenges confronting the HIV response worldwide—particularly funding shortfalls we have witnessed at the beginning of this year, disruptions in services and emerging social and structural barriers,” Ms Letoao said.
She said AHF is recommitting itself to transforming the AIDS response for resilience, equality and, most importantly, sustainability.
“For us as AHF, this commemoration is more than symbolic; it is deeply personal.”
Ms Letoao further indicated that AHF remains committed to health, dignity and hope for Basotho, having served the nation for over ten years. She noted the organisation’s longstanding collaborations with the Ministry of Health, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), district health management teams, community leaders, health workers and partners from various sectors to deliver HIV prevention, testing, treatment and community support.
She also expressed deep gratitude to LMPS, noting that their national partnership began within the service ten years ago.
The Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Lebona Lephema, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, urged young people to abstain from sexual activity if they are serious about fighting new infections.
He stressed that abstinence remains the only sure way to prevent HIV, particularly among the youth.
Mr Lephema applauded the country’s progress, citing statistics shared by Tiisetso Piti from the National AIDS Commission (NAC), which show that Lesotho has achieved 99% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 97% of them being on treatment and 97% of those virally suppressed.
Ms Piti said since 2020 the nation has surpassed its strategic plan target of achieving the 95-95-95 goals by 2025. She added that by 2030 the country aims for 100% of HIV-positive individuals to be on treatment—an achievable goal given current trends.
She explained that the 2023–2028 National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan calls for a comprehensive approach to addressing key challenges and accelerating progress, including preventing new infections, integrating health services, promoting behaviour change, upholding human rights, ensuring health and social protection, and securing HIV health products and technologies.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Sera Makharilele, appealed to the community to know their HIV status, noting that doing so helps authorities make effective plans. He urged unity in the fight against the virus.
“Let us all be supportive of one another, as this virus can affect every one of us,” DCP Makharilele pleaded.
Principal Chieftainess, Maletšabisa Lerotholi, encouraged the community to understand that being HIV-positive does not reflect poor morals, emphasising that anyone can be infected in various ways, including while caring for an infected person. She urged people not to hide their status so that new infections can be traced and controlled.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Tšepang Tšita-Mosena, stressed the importance of prevention strategies among the youth. She highlighted abstinence, faithfulness to one partner, condom use, adherence to medication, and regular medical check-ups as essential tools in ensuring a healthier nation.