LMPS ESTABLISHES A N ASSOCIATION FOR HIV/AIDS PEOPLE
	Maseru, June 28 - The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) has established an association which will protect and care for people living with HIV/AIDS as well as helping them with counselling and others things that will motivate them. According to the LMPS Head of Human Resource, Senior Inspector Lejone Makhakhe during the official opening of a workshop on the establishment of this association called 'Ha re Pheleng Support Group' at the Police Training College on Wednesday, the association is meant to bring services closer to people as well as to advocate for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS within the police service. Meanwhile, Trooper Kuebeli Senoko explained the 'Ha re Pheleng Support Group' is established after the recognition that there is a high rate of deaths due to HIV/AIDS pandemic within the LMPS. Trooper Senoko mentioned that the main purpose of the association is to provide care and support to police members who are infected and affected by the disease as well as their families. He pointed out that the association will also promote home based care for orphans and maintain the welfare for all LMPS staff infected, adding that the association will mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS through counselling. He said that the constitution that governs the association is aimed at promoting conducive working environment for people living with the disease and respect their human rights. He stated that the HIV/AIDS and Counseling Unit would also promote Voluntary Counseling and Testing within the police service. The association is built up of the HIV/AIDS Steering Committee and Counseling Unit to sensitise the LMPS staff on the importance of the association which will address the needs of LMPS members living with HIV and AIDS. The association was established in May this year, with 23 members from the districts of Maseru, Leribe, Butha-Buthe, Mohale's hoek and Thaba-Tseka.
	Source: LENA