The Lesotho Nurses Association (LNA) will launch a Wellness Centre of Excellence at the occasion to be held at the Association premises in Maseru on November 09.

In an interview, LNA Project Coordinator, Mrs. 'Makhafetsa Thakholi said the centre is meant to provide medical treatment and care for the health workers.

She said the centre will benefit nurses as they do not have to stand in long queues when they are sick, as most of the time, they pay attention to other people's lives.

She said nurses will receive free treatment for opportunistic infections that include Tuberculosis, Pneumonia, adding a voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS will be conducted.

Mrs. Thakholi said the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will provide the centre with Medical Doctors for services that include dispensing of Antiretroviral.

The centre is a pilot project which will benefit about 700 health workers in the district of Maseru, and it is expected to expand to other districts after two years.

The project is funded by Swedish Association for Health Professionals and Steven Lewis Foundation with M1 million, which will run the centre for a period of a year.

And after two years, the Government of Lesotho is expected to take over the project.

The occasion will be graced by the presence of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr Mphu Ramatlapeng and other Senior Nursing Officers.

The Lesotho Nurses Association was established in 1966 with the objective to protect the welfare of nurses in the country.

Source: LENA 23/10/2007