The Ambassador of France to South Africa and Lesotho undertakes field visits to the Global Fund and UNITAID supported project sites in Lesotho
The Ambassador of France to South Africa and Lesotho, His Excellency Mr. Christophe Farnaud who visited Lesotho from the 6th to 7th March 2019, says he appreciates the important role played by the Government of Lesotho in preventing and treating HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) in the Mountain Kingdom. The Ambassador who was accompanied by the Minister of Health Honorable Nkaku Kabi and his deputy Hon. ‘Manthabiseng Phohleli was addressing the scores of factory workers who had gathered to receive TB/HIV and other primary health care services from the two mobile clinics parked outside the Thetsane textile factory in Maseru.
“Today I am here to see the Global Fund and UNITAID supported projects and as you know France is the second largest contributor and the founding member of the Global Fund and I am very happy to see that these mobile clinics are so important to you,” the Ambassador told the factory workers.
From left, Hon. Minister of Health Nkaku Kabi, H.E. Ambassador Christophe Farnaud, Hon. Deputy Minister of Health ‘Manthabiseng Phohleli and the Regional Health Counsellor for Health at French Embassy in South Africa, Dr. Genevieve Nguyen
Speaking at the same occasion, the Hon. Minister Kabi appealed to the factory workers to utilize the services provided to know their HIV status in order to get help on time adding that all services are free of charge.
Speaking on behalf of workers, a female factory worker ‘Mamphutlane Ntai thanked the Ambassador and the Government of Lesotho for providing free HIV, TB and other health services at their workplace. She said the workers are now having health services at their door step and they don’t have to take sick leave or day off to visit the clinic. She said workers are able to receive HIV testing and those who are positive are receiving treatment at their workplace. “The services that we receive from these mobile clinics are of high quality and are given with high confidentiality,” she added.
To support Ministry of Health’s efforts to ensure access to a comprehensive package of HIV and TB services at factories, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and Phelisanang Bophelong in collaboration with the Ministry of Health received mobile clinics in 2017 with the support of Global Fund which are used to provide services for factory workers in Maseru and Maputsoe, primarily for factories where there are no built-in clinics.
Another Global Fund and UNITAID supported project site that the Ambassador visited while in Lesotho is a Multidrug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) program implemented by Partners in Health (PIH) Lesotho. The Ambassador took a tour around the Botšabelo hospital to learn more about the services that MDR TB patients receive at the hospital.
The Ambassador during the tour at Bots’abelo hospital
The overall goal of this program is to detect and treat all infectious TB and MD-TB/HIV patients and reduce morbidity and mortality. Doctor Lawrence Oyewusi, one of PIH Lesotho doctors working at the Botšabelo hospital explained to the Ambassador how the MDR-TB program works, indicating that the pathway begins with diagnosis of MDR TB, which is done by Government hospitals as well as hospitals run by other partners. Dr. Lawrence showed that PIH provides treatment to new and existing MDR/XDR patients referred from the district hospitals. The program is largely community based and treatment supporters are identified and trained for each patient.
“The program also provides social support in form of food packages, temporary accommodation and hygiene kits to all patients to enhance adherence,” explained Dr. Lawrence.
Highly committed to global health, France is the second largest contributor and a founding member of the Global Fund, and will host the 6th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund on October 10 in Lyon. France is also the largest contributor to UNITAID. France, Global Fund and UNITAID have contributed to the significant progress that has been made in health and development, specifically in the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB in Lesotho.