Former United States of America president, Mr. Bill Clinton officially launched the Lesotho chapter of the Clinton Foundation on July 18. He was also given one of the country’s highest national honours, the Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of Lesotho, by King Letsie III.    

   Former president Clinton bestowed with the KCMCOL

The former US president also met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili, before going on to tour the paediatric and health clinics of the Queen Elizabeth II hospital.  

The Clinton Foundation was established in November 2004 to strengthen the capacity of people in the world to meet the challenges presented by the rapidly increasing rate of global interdependence. 

To ensure attainment of this mission, the Foundation focuses on the core areas of health security with emphasis on HIV/AIDS, economic empowerment, leadership development and citizen service as well as racial, ethnic and religious reconciliation.

Government Secretary, Mr. Tlohang Sekhamane, announcing the visit earlier, said the visit was also a show of support for the strong political commitment of the Government of Lesotho in the fight against HIV/AIDS, particularly with regard to children living with this virus.

 Lesotho is one of the five African countries whose HIV/AIDS programmes are assisted by the Clinton Foundation. In 2005, the Foundation expanded its HIV initiative to include a paediatric and rural component.

18 July 2005