Members of Aid 2 Africa Association are currently in the country conducting monitoring evaluations on care and support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs).

Aid 2 Africa is an association based in London that aims to assist OVCs in African countries including Lesotho with their needs and wants.

In an interview with LENA, The First Lady, Mrs. 'Mathato Mosisili, said the team that is led by the manager of the association, Mr. John Scott will among others review progress made in assisting OVCs, since the establishment of the Office of the First Lady.

Mrs. Mosisili said the association has formed a partnership with her office so that they could work together in helping OVCs in Lesotho, adding that the team has so far visited Lesotho Child and Counseling Unit (LCCU), Rampoporo's Children's home, Rets'epile support group, and Boiteko Women's Forum.

“Aid 2 Africa has been assisting us through the donation of clothes and funds which were used to build Rampoporo's Children home at Lithoteng,” she alluded.

It is expected that at the end of the evaluations, the team will have an overview on the lives of the OVCs and how they could further be assisted.

Currently, there are over 180 000 orphans in the country, most of whom have lost their parents because of HIV/AIDS related illnesses, this is according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Established in 2003, the Office of the First Lady has been mandated to provide care and support the OVCs in the country.

Source: LENA 05/11/2007