The religious and traditional cultural reasons offered to explain HIV/AIDS when it first manifested itself in the country encouraged sufferers to keep it underground, hidden and thus allowed it to spread without being checked. 

Speaking at a World AIDS Day commemoration and the launch of the National Operational Plan of the Know Your Status (KYS) campaign at Botšabelo in Maseru on December 1, King Letsie III said initially the disease was associated with witchcraft and later explained as God’s punishment for sinners. 

This made those infected hide their status, and by so doing continue infecting others. 

The King said the pandemic is still escalating at a high and alarming rate despite all efforts taken to curb its spread. Basotho should all heed the Know Your Status campaign as doing will help prevent new infections because those already infected will live positively and not want to infect others, while the uninfected would try to remain thus.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Lesao Lehohla, also speaking at the commemoration and launch, urged people not to take AIDS as a life sentence like it was considered not so long ago, but should understand that there is still life even if one is diagnosed with this disease.

02 December 2005