Red Cross Launches HIV/AIDS Orphan's Care Pilot Project

The Lesotho Red Cross Society has embarked on a two-phase initiative of prevention and care measures for people living with HIV/AIDS. The first phase includes prevention and has been piloted in the districts of Mafeteng and Mohale's Hoek, while the second project will focus on care for HIV/AIDS orphans and will start in Teyateyaneng and Leribe.

The secretary-general of the Lesotho Red Cross Society, Ntharetso Lieta, said that her organization was devoted to fighting against the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country. In addition, Lieta said that the society has received $2 million from the Norwegian Red Cross. The money will cover both prevention and care projects and is intended to span a period of five years.

Lieta said the focus on HIV/AIDS came as a result of last year's declaration of the disease as a "disaster" by all Red Cross Societies worldwide. In addition, Lieta said that in order to strengthen their mission, and for the project to have an impact, the society would seek to form partnerships with the non-governmental organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS and government-sponsored initiatives in the fight against the pandemic. She said the group's focus would not be on building an orphanage but rather on working with foster parents and relatives of orphans.

The first phase targets young pupils in primary schools. Its aim is to furnish the young people with education before they mature sexually. The purpose is also to prepare them for the challenges of adolescence. The society is targeting parents and teachers as a group to break the silence on sexual education. According to Lieta, "We felt that the project would not carry weight if parents were left out, as they were found to be the elementary educators of their children."

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