African AIDS Gets Irish Focus

A remote mountain clinic in Lesotho - which is offering life-saving treatment to people living with HIV and AIDS with the support of Irish Aid - has been in the news this week.

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, who is visiting Lesotho to oversee the implementation of the Irish Aid programme, met patients and staff at the Bobete Clinic. This is one of seven clinics in remote, mountainous areas which are supported by Irish Aid and the Clinton Foundation in partnership with Lesotho's Ministry of Health. A further two clinics will be opened by the end of 2011.

Lesotho has the third highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, with approximately 23% of the adult population living with HIV.

Speaking after his visit to Bobete, Minister Power said: "I witnessed the impact of the Irish Aid's investment in this highly-effective programme to provide treatment and care to thousands of men, women and children who are living with HIV and AIDS.

"These clinics are in remote, inaccessible areas of Lesotho. Before this programme was started, many of the people being treated today would have had their lives cut short by the scourge of HIV because they would not have been able to access treatment and care.

"It was heartening to hear the stories of the patients who can now access testing and counselling services; receive the drugs they need in order to live a more normal life and be provided with the nutritional support which is vitally important for the treatment to work effectively. This is an integrated and effective programme which has transformed the lives of thousands of people in these mountain areas," he said.

"Addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a priority across the Irish Aid programme and €3.85 million has been allocated for 2010 for support to HIV/AIDS initiatives in Lesotho," he concluded.

Since its inception in June 2006, almost 35,000 people have received counselling and testing for HIV, more than 7,500 HIV positive patients have been enrolled into the programme for care and almost 5,000 people have been put on treatment for HIV and AIDS (ART).

During his two-day visit to Lesotho, Minister Power also visited the Mountain Orphan and Vulnerable Child Empowerment (MOVE) Project managed by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The project is designed to improve the diet and living conditions of orphaned children, caregivers, and their households in four of Lesotho's rural health clinic areas.

Minister Power also visited the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) hangar. MAF is Christian lay-missionary organisation which, in collaboration with the Lesotho Flying Doctor Service, provides pilots and aircraft to service the remote mountain clinics on a daily basis.

(BMCC/GK)