Lesotho

About Lesotho

The Kingdom of Lesotho landlocked country entirely surrounded by the

Republic of South Africa. over 30,000 km² in size estimated population almost 1,800,000. economy is based on : diamonds exported all over the world : water sold to South Africa, : manufacturing, : agriculture, livestock : the earnings of labourers employed in

South Africa Also exports wool,clothing, and footwear. The Prime Minister- Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili The king serves a largely ceremonial function

This country’s capital and largest city Maseru.

Millennium Development GoalsTo achieve universal education’To ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primaryschooling by 2015.

To combat aids, malaria and other such diseases.

(a) Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS

(b) Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need

(c) Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

Education

An estimated 85 percent of population 15 yrs + is literate

One of the highest literacy rates in Africa.

In 1990 The Government of Lesotho adopted the World Declaration on Education for All and thus made a commitment to the key global targets

Have centred on two general priority areas. 1-The provision of quality basic education for all November 1999 the Government announced

Free Primary Education from January 2000, beginning with grade 1 and adding another grade each year to primary completion at grade 7.

2 -Expand and improve vocational training and technical education to increase employment

Progression

Much has been achieved in 2008-09 Further high schools completed Vocational and technical centres

expanded Equipment procured for workshops

and libraries. The programme of construction and

furnishing of schools, laboratories, and resource centres is ongoing at all levels

Disease

The Kingdom of Lesotho is the world's only country with its entire landmass more than 1500m above sea

Kingdom in the Sky mosquitoes don't thrive Free from tropical diseases such as

yellow fever, bilharzia and malaria.

Diseases

Lesotho has one of the highest rates of HIV and AIDS infections in the world.

HIV prevalence rate for those aged between 15 and 49 is 23.2 percent the second highest in the world.

The first case of HIV Aids was reported in Lesotho in 1986.

Government has struggled to take concrete action against HIV/AIDS

In 2005, programs for the distribution of anti-retrovirals were initiated.

Since 2005 no significant change

62 new HIV infections and 50 deaths due to AIDS occur each day.

Of those infected with HIV in Lesotho: almost 12,000 are children;

Educational campaigns -Road Show. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV -In 2007 around 91 percent of pregnant women

had an HIV test an increase from 2005  Treatment for HIV -The government launched its national

programme to provide free antiretroviral therapy in November 2004

-By the end of 2008, the number of people receiving antiretroviral drugs doubled that of 2007.

TB

The Partners in Health project in Lesotho was launched in 2006

Prior to Partners In Health ,the country lacked the resources to diagnose drug-resistant TB and monitor its prevalence 

In 2007 first-ever treatment program for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

refurbished the national TB laboratory and opened new TB hospital in the capital city, Maseru.

Patients come from all over the country, including the country’s most isolated rural mountain districts