AIDS NEEDS CONSOLIDATED EFFORTS - DR HARLEM BRUNDTLAND
	The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland says AIDS is not only a regional but also a global problem which needs consolidated efforts to be defeated. She was speaking in an interview upon arrival at the Moshoeshoe I international airport where she was received by among others, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr, Motloheloa Phooko, the Principal Secretary for the Ministry, Mrs Mahali Lebesa and the WHO representative, Dr. Miguel Kiasekoka. Dr Harlem Brundtland said there is a need to spread knowledge about the pandemic, how it is spread and how it could be prevented, adding that it is only when people are knowledgeable, that they can protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease. She said WHO would help in any way possible to gather information and support efforts by governments in fighting the pandemic. She added that she took a chance after the close of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to visit Lesotho and get information about the food crisis in the country. Dr. Harlem Brundtland said she has recently met with Ministers of health in the region and talked about linkages between the current food crisis in the region and health issues, thus her visit to Lesotho. According to the programme, the WHO Director General will pay a courtesy call on King Letsie III, meet heads of United Nation agencies in Lesotho, visit the National Health Training College and Ithuseng Rehabilitation Centre on Thursday. She is the founder of the WHO tobacco free initiative and is the first WHO Director General to visit Lesotho. 04 September,2002
	SOURCE: LENA