The King Letsie III has officially launched the national HIV Prevention strategy 2011-2015 during the World AIDS Day commemoration marked at Ha Mabote in Berea on December 1st, 2011.

Speaking at the ceremony, the King said the strategy has four goals: to half new HIV infections by 2015, to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV which Lesotho is already doing well, to reduce infection through blood transfusion and to revitalize the existing HIV prevention strategies.

The world theme for this day is “Getting to Zero: Zero new infections, Zero discriminations and Zero AIDS”. This is a comprehensive theme that calls countries’ commitment to stop discrimination against the infected and affected, to stop new infection to those who are negative to remain negative and to prolong the lives of those who are already infected by providing treatment, care and support.

In his remarks, the Lesotho Prime Minister Hon. Pakalitha Mosisili commended Lesotho’s momentum in combating HIV and AIDS although he said there are some challenges. He said the country’s effort in the fight against HIV has put Lesotho on the international map through ‘Know Your Status’ (KYS) campaign.

The Prime Minister said the KYS campaign encouraged many people to overcome fear and test for HIV where many infected people managed to get help on time and save lives.

About 18,000 people are infected to HIV yearly to the country of about 1.8 million people. According to Ministry of Health statistics, 280,000 people in Lesotho are living with the disease and among them, a total of 113,000 enrolled in Antiretroviral treatment adding that the Government uses M134,000,000 for AIDS treatment, which 70% of the budget comes from the Lesotho Government coffers while 30% is coming from various development partners.
He cited Behaviour Change as one of the strategy to prevent HIV but saying that it depends on individual person to make this decision.

Addressing the participants at the same occasion, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Mphu Ramatlapeng said the World AIDS Day commemoration started with a national HIV Prevention symposium that was held at Lesotho National Convention Centre for two days (November 29 and 30, 2011) where more than 300 people from all sectors of the societies gathered together to say no to Multiple and Concurrent Partnership (MCP), no to intergenerational sex and no to unsafe sex.

“Realizing that men are still not active supporting the fight against HIV makes women and children more vulnerable to contract the virus. Therefore the Ministry of Health adopts the new strategy: “Action plan for women, Girls and HIV/AIDS to revitalize prevention strategies,” said Dr. Ramatlapeng. This means the strategies to fight HIV will be more gender sensitive and ensure HIV is mainstreamed in all programs and strategies to ensure women and children are also fully protected.

During the ceremony, the dignitaries performed candle-lighting and observed a moment of silence to remember the fallen heroes and sheroes who lost the battle against AIDS as well as those who are infected and affected with the virus.

The leaders also signed the HIV prevention commitment and flew balloons carrying this year’s theme. The King then cut the ribbon to launch the first ever national prevention strategy in the country to revitalize HIV prevention effort in the country.

Participants were King, Prime Minister, cabinet Ministers, members of diplomatic corps, development partners, United Nations Family, Civil Society, Senior Government officials, youths and the community at large.