Lesotho’s fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic received a boost this week with the visit, on August 17, of the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Mr. Stephen Lewis and the WHO Global Director of HIV/AIDS, Dr. Jim Kim. 

Special Envoy Stephen Lewis’ three day visit is to follow up on the latest developments on the HIV and AIDS front, with a focus on treatment both at health centre and household level. 

During his mission on 17-19 August 2005 Mr. Stephen Lewis will, amongst other activities, meet with the Honourable Minister of Health; the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team. He will also meet the National AIDS Secretariat and the newly established Lesotho Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (LENEPWHA). 

Mr. Lewis was due to visit Lesotho in July but the visit had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. 

The WHO Global Director of HIV/AIDS, Dr. Jim Kim, visited the country on August 17 to review progress made on the roll-out programme on Anti-Retrovirals (ARVs) in Lesotho with specific reference to the “3-by-5” initiative.  

Mr. Lewis’ first visit was in December 2002, he returned in June 2004 and again in October 2004.

17 August 2005