Lesotho: HIV and AIDS
The response in the mountains
The Kingdom of Lesotho is a small, land-locked country in the middle of South Africa. Often referred to as the ‘kingdom in the sky’, its terrain is rugged and mountainous
AngliCORD has funded vital HIV and AIDS programs in the Mantsonyane region of Lesotho since 1993. AngliCORD continues to work with partners in the area to promote safe sex and provide education, training and treatment for HIV and AIDS.
Mantsonyane lies southeast of Lesotho’s capital Maseru and has a population of around 66,000.
People living in the region face many challenges, including the spread of HIV and AIDS. AngliCORD’s partners strive to address problems of ill-health, poverty and stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.
The Auray Health Clinic
AngliCORD supports the work of the Auray Health Clinic, which is run by Sister Bernadette Maseli.
The clinic sets up temporary testing centres in remote villages with the help of volunteer workers. In this way the clinic is able to reach people who are unable to get to the towns.
A regular support group for those affected by HIV and AIDS also meets at Auray Health Clinic. The group allows participants to share experiences, receive education and treatment and find support from others affected by HIV and AIDS.
Traditional practices
Some traditional practices can contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS in the region. Particular problems include the practice of mass circumcision at boy’s initiation schools and the use of razor blades by traditional healers.
AngliCORD’s partners in Mantsonyane educated initiation school leaders and traditional healers about safe and hygienic medical practices in order to reduce infections.
Efforts are also being made to promote safe sex messages at initiation schools.
Initiation Schools
Initiation schools in Lesotho are a rite of passage for teenage boys. Usually held once a year in August, the schools teach male students over 15 years about sex and becoming a man.
Boys are circumcised as part of their initiation. Equipment is often not sterilised and one razor blade might be used on several boys, creating a huge risk of infection.
Education has been vital in teaching initiation school leaders about safe and hygienic medical practices during circumcision. In some cases schools are now testing boys for HIV before they participate.
School leaders are also being encouraged to teach safe sexual practices and supply condoms to the boys after they have completed initiation school.
Traditional Healers
Although modern medicine is available in Lesotho, traditional healers remain popular for cultural reasons.
Traditional healers use a range of herbal and mystical remedies to treat ailments, and also often use razor blades in their procedures.
AngliCORD’s partners have been training traditional healers in safe medical practices and supplying clean razor blades, surgical gloves, and other medical supplies to avoid the spread of HIV.
However given the number of traditional healers that exist and the resistance to change much more work needs to be done.
More about HIV and AIDS in the region
Most people in Lesotho are very poor and live traditionally on small plots of land. The spread of HIV and AIDS has led to increased poverty as productive workers fall in and die and health care costs rise.
Lesotho’s mountains provide one of the country’s few resources: water, which it sells to South Africa.
The Lesotho Highland Water Project – a multi-billion dollar building project designed to harness this resource – is bringing tremendous change to remote mountain communities.
One of those changes is a growing trade in prostitution as a result of the influx of foreign workers. This has contributed to a rapid increase in HIV infection.