Lesotho News

The Human Security Unit (HSU) of the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) visited Lesotho from 3-9 March 2013. The purpose of the mission was to provide an opportunity for the HSU to assess the progress of the project implementation and the application of the human security, appreciate the challenges and added value of implementing the human security approach as well as providing guidance where necessary.

The Ministry of Health, with support from the UN country team, conducted the MAF validation workshop for stakeholders on the costed MAF action plan on the 28th March 2013. The costing of the MAF action plan was facilitated by the WHO Inter Country Support Team through Dr. Nganda from Harare and Dr. Getachew Atnafu from the WHO Ethiopia. The objective of the workshop was to share and discuss identified interventions, bottlenecks and solutions on MAF action plan and reach consensus. Director General of Health Services, Dr. Mpolai Moteetee, opened the meeting.

Lesotho commemorated World Health Day on 07th April 2013 and the commemoration was hosted at Lithabaneng, Maseru under this year’s global theme; “HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE”. The function was organized by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO and was beautified by the presence of the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Pinkie Rosemary Manamolela; Mr. Mohlakola Hlabana, WHO PHE officer speaking on behalf of the WHO Representative to Lesotho; Dr. Mpolai Moteetee, Director General of Health Service in the Ministry of Health; Dr. Lugemba Budiaki, Director of Primary Health Care; Mr.

The third annual African Vaccination Week (AVW) was commemorated this week in Mafeteng district, Lesotho highlighting this year’s global theme: “Saves lives prevent disabilities, vaccinate”.

World No Tobacco Day was commemorated on May 31st in Thaba-Bosiu, Maseru District, under a very timely and relevant theme for Lesotho :

“Ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship”.

To demonstrate that Lesotho does not need to rely on the tobacco industry to run events, the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization, organized a sports tournament for the youth of the area. Key health messages on the dangers of tobacco use were shared routinely with the crowd throughout the tournament.

World blood Donor Day was commemorated on June 14th in Maseru District. This year is the 10th anniversary of the institution of World Blood Donor Day and was celebrated under the theme: “Every blood donation is a gift of life”.

Lesotho has a strong blood donation service and chose to mark the 10th anniversary with a ceremony at the Victoria Hotel, in Maseru, congratulating the contributions by blood donors across the country throughout the years.

The Lesotho Ministry of Health, with assistance from the World Health Organization, recent-ly conducted a National Train the Trainers workshop on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (ISDR). The training took place over five days, at Teyateyaneng in Berea, with 22 participants and 5 facilitators involved. The surveillance training was based on the recently released second edition of the IDSR technical guidelines.The two main objectives were:

Lesotho conducted a training on the OneHealth Tool from 1st-5th July. This invaluable tool will be used for the costing of strategic plans, beginning with the Health Sector Strategy 2012-2017 and the Health Research Strategy 2012-2017.

The training took place over five days at Ka Pitseng Lodge, Berea. A total of 28 participants were trained, including 23 Ministry of Health staff, 3 from the WHO, 1 from UNICEF and 1 from the National University of Lesotho. The facilitators were Mr. Emeka Nsofor, a WHO consultant, and Dr. Benjamin Nganda, from the WHO Intercountry Support Team.

Lesotho has adopted the work of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women‟s and Children‟s Health which was built on the fundamental human right of every woman and child to the highest attainable standard of health and on the critical importance of achieving equity in health. All accountability mechanisms should be effective, transparent and inclusive of all stakeholders. Lesotho is one of the African Countries that are off track in addressing the Millennium Development Goal on maternal and child health.

On 6th February 2014, Dr. Thomas Sukwa, the new WHO Country Representative for Lesotho, presented his cre-dentials to the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs & Interna-tional Relations, Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa, and paid a courtesy call on the Right Hon. Prime Minister of Lesotho, Dr. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane.