The United States Global Aids Coordinator Ambassador, Mr. Mark Dybul is currently on a three-day visit to Lesotho, which started on Tuesday.

Mr. Dybul leads the implementation of the US President's Emergency Plan for IDS relief (PEPFAR), an initiative which funded over M90 million of anti-AIDS efforts in Lesotho in 2007.

During his stay, Mr. Dybul is expected to visit a number of PEPFAR-funded sites, including the Queen Elizabeth II hospital, a footwear factory in Maputsoe, and a rural community-based project at Ketane in Quthing.

Under the PEPFAR, the US government has committed over US$18 billion to the fights against HIV/AIS, exceeding its original commitment of US$15 billion over five years.

According to PEPFAR's national office, this commitment reaffirms the US' historic leadership in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. It says President George Bush has requested that the US Congress reauthorize PEPFAR for five additional years and additional US$30 billion which would bring the American people's 10-year commitment on HIV/AIDS to more that US$48 billion.

In Lesotho, PEPFAR works closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Aids Commission and other stakeholders to implement key areas of Lesotho's 2006-2011 National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.

The emphasis of this plan is HIV prevention, the integration of TB and HIV service delivery, and the universal access to HIV counseling and testing.

In the goals, PEPFAR works closely with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which will invest over M2.9 billion in Lesotho over the next five years.

Source: LENA 23/01/2008