Latest news with #Maseru
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
US aid cuts are exposing HIV patients to stigmatisation and violence
When Liemiso Leteba received an injection at the start of the year to protect her from the HIV virus, she felt a rare sense of relief. For months she had been on a protective daily pill, but each day the medication risked triggering a quarrel and possible violence from her husband. She had started taking the precaution when she learned he was being unfaithful. Living in Lesotho, that potentially put her at significant risk, as the country has the second highest HIV/Aids prevalence in the world. Yet the protection, called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), also carries a stigma among some, who believe people take it just to be promiscuous. Ms Leteba, who like all the women interviewed by The Telegraph declined to give her real name, said that her husband confronted her after finding the pills in her handbag. 'He accused me of cheating while I was at work, yet the truth is I started using PrEP to protect myself from him and his infidelity.' A two-monthly PrEP injection being offered as part of a research study in two districts of Maseru and Leribe changed all that. There were no more pills that her husband could find and she felt the jab was 'more discreet'. True, the first injection left a bruise on her bottom which nearly got her a beating, but she felt safer and less afraid. She said: 'I knew I was doing it for a good cause. I was ready to walk that journey.' She did not know then that her relief from fear would be fleeting. The PrEP injections were offered by Lesotho's Ministry of Health to 850 women through funding by the American government's aid agency, USAID. But Donald Trump's decision to freeze foreign aid, including for America's huge anti-HIV programme, abruptly ended the roll out of both the PrEP injection and a long-acting vaginal ring that slowly releases PrEP drugs. Dr Tapiwa Tarumbiswa, the health ministry's HIV/Aids manager, told the parliament last week: 'We were looking forward to the introduction of the pre-exposure prophylaxis injection – long-acting cabotegravir – but unfortunately, the roll out has been terminated.' According to the 2022 UNAids report , nearly one-in-five people aged 15 to 49 are HIV positive in Lesotho. The country lost around $48m in USAID funding following Mr Trump's freeze. Worldwide, the cuts are forecast to put the fight against the epidemic back by years, with a risk of infection rates and Aids cases rising to levels not seen since the turn of the century. Introducing long-lasting PrEP treatments has been seen as critical to defeating the world's HIV/Aids epidemic, which still kills an average of one person every minute. Experts say that too many people drop off daily pills because they forget to keep taking them, find it difficult to get fresh refills, or find the stigma difficult to navigate. Before the budget freeze, the PrEP injection and vaginal ring had enabled women to manage social pressures that often put them at risk of violence from husbands or boyfriends, said Dr Nthuseng Marake, HIV treatment and care officer at Lesotho's Ministry of Health. She said: 'In relationships, some partners may not approve of their partner using PrEP. As a result, many women face challenges with taking oral PrEP. While they understand the need for it, they often struggle to use it at home due to these social pressures.' 'I can't risk anyone finding a full bottle' Mpho too said she had to disguise taking PrEP pills from her husband. On weekdays, she stays working by herself in Morija and visits her husband on weekends. That means that during the week, she takes her daily PrEP pill without worry. But on weekends, 'I pretend it's a contraceptive,' she said. 'But the PrEP pill is much bigger, and that makes it hard to disguise. I make sure he is not around when I take it.' She added: 'It's tricky. I have to wake up early or wait until he is distracted.' Lerato's fear of being discovered with PrEP pills is so severe that she only keeps a few at home at any one time. 'I only take a few pills at a time. I don't keep the full pack at home,' she said. She now gets her refills from a trusted village health worker – a quiet ally who helps her maintain her safety and autonomy. 'This way, there are no questions at home. I can't risk anyone finding a full bottle.' Dr Lerato Mothae from the ministry of health, told The Telegraph that some Lesotho men did not understand issues around intimacy, and that often became a driving force behind the high incidence of HIV infections. In some cases, others do not understand the difference between PrEP and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs which are used to suppress infection, because both medications are packaged in similar containers. Dr Mothae said: 'When a man sees a woman taking PrEP, he may assume she is HIV positive. 'This shows that when men are not informed about sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV issues, they can become obstacles to prevention efforts. 'They may end up interfering with the preventive measures women take to protect themselves from HIV infection.' He emphasised that PrEP is a personal medication someone takes individually. 'So, it's difficult to understand why someone would stop their partner from taking PrEP, especially when it's something they are taking into their own body.' One of his patients, Mathabang said her husband equated PrEP with ARVs and was deeply suspicious of them. 'If he saw the pill, it would be a huge fight,' she shared. She disclosed this fear to Dr Mothae, who agreed to give her pills in a paracetamol container. 'It's the only way I can take PrEP. He thinks it's just something for my headaches.'
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Leveraging the contribution of Basotho diaspora to Lesotho sustainable development
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Sub-regional Office for North Africa (SRO-NA) and Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, organized a workshop on Thursday 15 May in Maseru, Lesotho, on leveraging the contribution of the Basotho diaspora to the country's sustainable development. The mission aimed to engage with key stakeholders, support the integration of remittances into national development strategies, explore ways to channel diaspora savings into investment for sustainable development, and establish a national technical working group to guide the program's implementation. The workshop was attended by 55 representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Central Bank of Lesotho, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Home Affairs, United Nation System in Lesotho (RCO, IOM, UNDP), and representatives from academia, private sector, diaspora association, civil society and the banking sector. The meeting was held as part of ECA's programme on 'Strengthening the Migration-Development Nexus in Africa', which aims to provide technical support and strengthen the capacity of African countries to include the diaspora's contribution into national plans and socio-economic policies and develop adequate framework and tools to better channel remittances to productive investment. In his opening remarks, Mr. Khaled Hussein, Chief of the Sub-Regional Initiatives Section, SRO-NA, extended his appreciation to national partners for the constructive engagement over the past three days of the fact-finding mission. He underscored the vital role that remittances play in Lesotho's economy, noting their resilience amid global uncertainties. 'Despite international challenges, remittances have remained a stable domestic resource,' he said, reaffirming ECA's commitment to supporting Lesotho through continued technical assistance. 'It is time for Lesotho to broaden the scope of diaspora contributions and more effectively channel them toward sustainable development,' stated Ms. Maseeiso Lekholoane, Director of Private Sector and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond traditional remittance flows. She called on participants to take full advantage of the workshop, urging them to engage in meaningful dialogue, share insights, and collaboratively identify strategies that can fully harness the potential of the Basotho diaspora for national development. The workshop concluded with the agreement to establish a national technical working group (NTWG) that will operate under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, based on the pre-established group on Migration by including more relevant stakeholders, and the identification of key areas of technical support to better leverage the contribution of remittances in Lesotho. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo calls for bold investment to Secure Southern Africa's Water Future
The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr. Sello Seitlholo, has called for intensified investment in the water sector to secure Southern Africa's future in the face of climate change and growing water demands. Speaking at the ORASECOM Climate Resilient Investment Conference in Maseru, Lesotho on Thursday, 08 May 2025, Deputy Minister Seitlholo highlighted that resilient water infrastructure and cross-border collaboration are critical to the region's economic development, environmental sustainability, and long-term water security. As a proud and committed member of the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM), South Africa continues to champion regional cooperation for the sustainable and equitable management of shared water resources. Deputy Minister Seitlholo reaffirmed the country's support for the Commission, noting South Africa's role as host country and consistent contributor to its operations and basin-wide studies. 'Water is the foundation upon which our economies, communities, and ecosystems rest. In Southern Africa, it also binds us together across borders. Our shared future demands that we invest boldly and wisely in securing this most precious resource,' he said. South Africa is undertaking major reforms to create an enabling environment for water investment. Deputy Minister Seitlholo said that these include legislative amendments to strengthen water governance, reduce inefficiencies, and attract private-sector involvement through improved regulatory certainty and streamlined project processes. He pointed to multiple opportunities for investors, ranging from bulk infrastructure and wastewater treatment to innovative technologies in reuse and smart metering. Public-private partnerships are being pursued with urgency, including through the Water Partnership Office in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). 'Investing in water is not just a necessity; it is a generational imperative. Our policy reforms, institutional innovation, and partnerships demonstrate that we are ready to work with all stakeholders to make water investment a success story,' he emphasised. The Deputy Minister highlighted sustainability, technological advancement, and climate adaptation as key pillars of the country's water strategy. He emphasised the need for robust risk management to address droughts, floods, and pollution, backed by government funding instruments such as the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant made available by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Deputy Minister Seitlholo stressed that communities must be at the heart of water solutions. South Africa's water governance model prioritises public participation and inclusive development, particularly through forums supporting youth, women, and civil society engagement. Partnerships with NGOs, research institutions, and the private sector continue to drive innovation and ensure evidence-based planning. In closing, Deputy Minister Seitlholo reaffirmed South Africa's unwavering commitment to regional leadership and global engagement in the water sector. He announced that South Africa will proudly host the Africa Water Investment Summit in August, a strategic platform aimed at unlocking large-scale investment and galvanising multi-sector partnerships for water infrastructure development across the continent. Furthermore, as South Africa has assumed the G20 Presidency, the Deputy Minister committed that water financing will be elevated as a key agenda item, positioning water not merely as a development issue but as a central pillar of economic resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable growth. 'South Africa stands ready to lead by example, mobilising political will, catalysing investment, and fostering cross-border cooperation to build a water-secure future for Africa and beyond,' he affirmed. 'Let us seize this moment to mobilise the partnerships, political will, and financing needed to ensure a climate-resilient and water-secure future for our region. What we decide today must shape a legacy of inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity for generations to come,' concluded Deputy Minister Seitlholo. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa.
