| |
The Director of World Vision Lesotho Mr. Winston Nkhoma says HIV/AIDS is a
worldwide concern and it is the responsibility of all nations to join hands
and fight this killer disease. Speaking at the official launching of World
Vision International AIDS relay in Lesotho held at Thaba-Nt'so in Quthing on
Monday16 September Mr. Nkhoma said it is also the responsibility of all
nations to declare a state of emergency against child abuse to give children
a chance to grow as responsible people.
He said the statistics show that there are 178, 000 AIDS orphans and such
children are dieing with hunger, lack of medical care and some do not attend
school due to financial problems, adding that parents have to warn their
children about AIDS to build healthy nation. Speaking about the theme for
the relay, which say " Children, our hope, our future," Mr.
Nkhoma said children need support to build a healthy tomorrow nation and
added that children need assistance to take good decisions when choosing
professions.
Speaking at the same occasion, a member of the District Aids Task Force (DATF)
Trooper Leema K'hoza appealed to the youth to abstain from sex
before marriage to avoid infectious diseases especially AIDS since it is not
curable. He said the DATF has started youth consultation meetings where
youth are given a chance to identify their problems including teenage
pregnancy and HIV/AIDS and seek solutions for their problems to promote
HIV/AIDS peer education since some parents are not free to talk to their
children about sex related issues.
One of the people living with HIV /AIDS Mrs. Malerato Makae said AIDS affect
all groups of people including kings, lawyers, doctors and poppers but it is
the responsibility of every body to protect himself against the disease to
live longer.
The relay started with
a procession of 20 cyclists from Seaka Bridge via Moyeni to Thaba-Nt'so
where activities of the day, which included speeches, songs and drama with
HIV/AIDS information, were made. The relay has been organized by World
Vision International Regional office in South Africa with the purpose of
sensitizing the nations about AIDS. The official closing of the relay in the
country will be held in Butha-Buthe on September 20th .The relay started in
Tanzania on August 22nd.
16 September,2002
|