"Lesotho is a small impoverished country. Its problems have been made infinitely worse since I grew up because of the HIV/AIDs pandemic. It has been said that we, as a nation, are facing annihilation"
Prince Seeiso of Lesotho
The Official Website of
The Mophato oa Mants'ase Society
While the global response to HIV and AIDS has resulted in a decrease in the overall prevalence of infection, the epidemic continues to have devastating effects on the communities affected.
According to recent estimates, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Lesotho is 23%, the third-highest in the world. According to the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics, in 2006 life expectancy was estimated at 39.7 for men and 42.9 for women.
Out of all countries with an HIV prevalence rate greater than 1%, Lesotho has the largest percentage of children who have lost one or both parents. There are approximately 130,000 orphans in Lesotho aged between 0 and 17, and this number continues to escalate. This is happening in a country with an already small population of just over two million, and where a large majority of the population is dependent, being too old, young or sick to provide for themselves.
It has been estimated that:
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Every day more than 100 children lose one parent as a result of AIDS.
Every day more than 100 children lose one parent as a result of AIDS.•More than 40% of Lesotho’s children have lost one or both parents.
More than 40% of Lesotho’s children have lost one or both parents.The Government has put in place several programmes and has developed good policies to provide guidance in the areas of HIV prevention, care, support and treatment. And the donor community is collaborating with the Government in a massive effort to address the HIV epidemic. Key international stakeholders include PEPFAR, (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) UN agencies, Irish AID, other international donors, and dozens of non-governmental organizations.
Despite many challenges, in recent years Lesotho has dramatically increased PMTCT services (Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV). Fewer children are being infected with HIV at birth and this is good and welcome news. It is also one of the factors contributing to the explosive growth in the number of orphaned children. Born without HIV infection these children have an even better chance of living long and healthy lives but many will be orphaned before they reach the age of 17.
Access to antiretroviral treatment is also much improved and a number of agencies now estimate life expectancy in Lesotho to be between 45 and 47. But the fact still remains that many of Lesotho’s younger generation will face growing up without parental support.
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Orphans are most at risk of being exposed to abuse and exploitation. If left to survive on their own, Lesotho's orphans and other vulnerable children are forced to undertake hazardous forms of labour like herding, domestic work or commercial sex, just to survive.
