The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Timothy Thahane says Basotho must win the battle against HIV/AIDS so that there can be a nation to talk about in future.

“We have no choice but to win the fight because if we do not win, there  will be no future to talk about in few years to come,” he said.

Speaking during an HIV/AIDS stakeholders meeting with Secure the Future – Programme of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation at Lesotho Sun this week, Dr Thahane expressed concern over the increasing number of people infected with HIV in a nation, which he said is small, noting that every family is in one way or another affected by the pandemic.

The Minister, therefore, urged everyone in the country to support all efforts aimed at raising awareness to combat the spread of HIV, adding that there is need for change of behaviour.

He cautioned that HIV/AIDS fears nobody, and does not reserve young from olds, as well as  differentiating educated from un-educated and employed from unemployed people.

Dr Thahane said that the Government of Lesotho is committed to fighting the scourge, adding that combating HI/AIDS through the promotion of “Know Your Status” campaign should be regarded as priority.

Meanwhile, the Lesotho Government has allocated M109 million to HIV/AIDS activities so to intensify KYS campaign and provision of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

Source: LENA