| Lesotho Network
of People Living with HIV and AIDS (LENEPWHA)
Coordinator Mrs. Bolelwa Falten commended
care-givers and members of support groups for
their continued support to Orphans and
Vulnerable Children (OVC) in their respective
areas.
Falten said this at the beginning of LENEPWHA
distribution of food packages to Orphans and
Vulnerable Children that started in Butha Buthe
district on April 23, 2009 and extended to all
10 districts in the country. She encouraged the
care givers to countinue with the good work that
they started long ago.
The LENEPWHA
Coordinator acknowledged the Global Fund
Coordinating Unit (GFCU) for grant assistance
that made possible for them to distribute food
to the needy OVC in the country.
On behalf of
Butha Buthe councilors, Mrs. ‘Mabafokeng
Lebutsetsa of B10 council said the council is
aware about the escalating rate of the problem
of OVC in the country. “In our district we do
not call them orphans but we refer to them as
our beloved children.”
She appealed to
People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) to work
hand in hand with members of LENEPWHA in order
to get counseling and encouragement to live
healthier and longer with the disease.
Councilor Lebutsetsa thanked Global Fund grants
saying its contribution to the mitigation of HIV
and AIDS among children is highly appreciated.
One of the
children who received food package in Butha
Buthe is Bokoena* 8 years old-boy doing standard
three. He lost her young mother and father at
the same year in 2002. Bakoena and her sister 10
years are now left with relatives in his
village.
Bakoena was born
with HIV contracted from his biological parent
and the child is now living with AIDS. He is
currently on a life-time treatment and collects
his medication at Paballong ART center in Butha
Buthe. His care-giver mentioned that Bokoena is
healthy and able to play like other children and
attend school countinuously without problem.
Another Child
received the food parcel is Monica Makhang 7
year old girl. Her Mother died and left with her
father who is chronically ill. Monica and her
father are now living with her grand-mother. The
grand- mother thanked LENEPHWA and GFCU for
providing this donation that means so much to
her family.
Meanwhile,
LENEPHWA food distribution for OVC covers all
districts of the country whereby in each
district similar number, 80, needy OVC received
food packages. |
