The Government of Lesotho and the European Commission(EC) have signed a financing agreement of a project to assist Orphans and Vulnerable Children(OVC) in Maseru.

Signing of behalf of the Government, The Minister of Finance and Development Planning DR. Timothy Thahane said this grant is meant to support the most important category of the Lesotho's population, which is Orphans and Vulnerable children.

He said it is worth to distribute this large amount of resources to these groups as they are the future leaders of the country, and it is their right to attain education, nutrition and health facilities.

He said Lesotho has the highest infection rate of HIV/AIDS in Africa as it is estimated to 23 percent, and it claims the lives of productive members of the society such as teachers, health workers and Industrial workers.

He therefore, appreciated the EC for its support and said the funds will be used effectively with due respect to accountability.

The European Commission Ambassador MR. Peter Beck Christiansen said the key modalities of this project implementation will include psychosocial support, guidance and protection and provision of access to educational facilities and instruction on HIV/AIDS prevention.

He mentioned that the Caregivers groups will be established to provide service brokerage working together with governmental and non governmental structures at district level and non governmental organisations.

The project will be implemented over the next three years, and it has been developed in the context of the National OVC strategy, and it will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Training and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It underlines the Government's commitment to the continued fight against HIV/AIDS.

Source: LENA