Two grants were signed between the government of Lesotho and the Global Fund for HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) programmes at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in Maseru on Thursday.

The Minister of Finance Dr. Timothy Thahane signed on behalf of the government while the Global Fund Portfolio Manager in Southern Africa Mrs. Tatjana Peterson signed on behalf of Global Fund.

Speaking at the ceremony Dr. Thahane said the signing of the grants amounting to (US43.3) estimated at M23 million marks the extension and strengthening the existing relationship the government has with Global Fund in the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB.

He said the grants are additional to M70 million for HIV/AIDS and M12 million for TB programmes which the government received in January 2004.

He stated that the funds were used for educating youth on HIV/AIDS prevention, counseling, testing, care and treatment as well as care and support of people affected and infected by the scourge of the pandemic and providing TB treatment in hospitals.

Speaking at the same occasion the Mrs. Peterson expressed appreciation to the government of Lesotho for the good working relations it has with Global Fund and promised that Global Fund will continue to support Lesotho in its efforts to fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mrs. Peterson said Lesotho is among the African countries which are financially support by Global Fund and therefore requested that the funds be spent accordingly in order to reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS which continues to claim the lives of many people as well as on TB programmes.

The President of the Lesotho Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (LENEPHWA) Mr. Mohau Mabote thanked global fund for providing the government of Lesotho with funds saying they have also benefited from the funds which were previously allocated.

SOURCE: LENA