FORMER U.S PRESIDENT TOURS MAFETENG HOSPITAL
	Former United States (US) President Bill Clinton, accompanied by U.S billionaire Mr Bill Gates and wife Melinda took a brief tour of Mafeteng Hospital on Wednesday. In a brief interaction with staff and patients at the Clinton Foundation affiliated, Karabong clinic in the vicinity of Mafeteng hospital , Clinton commended the staff of for providing quality services of HIV/AIDS, hence building patients who are brave and courageous enough to talk openly about their status. He said the clinic should at all times strive to work hard and produce best results for the benefit of people living with HIV/AIDS, adding that his Foundation in Lesotho still has mountains to climb regarding access to treatment and testing. He called on all stakeholders to pledge their support for the initiative. He said Clinton Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) helps enhance access to treatment in Mafeteng and throughout the country by amongst others providing clinical mentors, lab support, pediatric drugs, supply chain management expertise as well as assisting in the day to day running of the clinic. During his one-day visit Mr Clinton also had an opportunity to meet with HIV positive mothers whose children are benefiting from infant diagnosis testing introduced by the Foundation, patients living with HIV/AIDS as well as community health workers who will soon be trained to provide HIV counseling and testing. Speaking during this interaction, Mr Gates said although he is not certain if Lesotho can be lined as an example of the region as this is his first visit, through interaction with the Minister of Health and others he is convinced that there is hope in Lesotho as far as the fight against HIV/AIDS is concerned. Speaking at the same occasion the Director of Lesotho CHAI Dr Mphu Ramatlapeng, expressed hope that after the ongoing Know Your Status campaigns more people will understand the importance of knowing their HIV/AIDS status. She said due to shortage of human resources and equipment they are unable to reach rural communities. She however indicated that they have introduced pilot projects of ARV’s in some selected areas of the district to enhance health services. Mr Clinton and Mr and Mrs Gates were also accompanied by the United Nations special envoy on HIV/AIDS Dr Stephen Lewis. Present at the occasion were; Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Health and Social Welfare, Government Secretary, District Administrator of Mafeteng, Senior Government Officials and the public. Bill Clinton and his entourage arrived on Wednesday and are expected to leav same day.
	Source: LENA