The Minister of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), Dr Mphu Ramatlapeng says there is need to strengthen existing ties with Wales for the benefit of health sector in the country.

She was speaking at a one-day meeting with a delegation of Wales people currently visiting the country.

The Minister said she is impressed of the existing working relationship between Mencap Cymru and the Lesotho Society of Mentally Handicapped Persons (LSMHP), which began in 2000, with the objective to improve the sector dealing with disability in Lesotho.

She said that LSMHP plays an important role to transform the lives of people with mental disability in the country, urging society to further strengthen working ties with the government for the betterment of the disadvantaged.

“To strengthen working relationship with the government, it is important that the organisation establishes ties with Mohlomi Hospital as it also deals with mental illness cases,' she said.

Dr Ramatlapeng noted that this will grant LSMHP an opportunity to work directly with the ministry and thus develop an interaction to solve some of the problems they encounter in their daily activities.

The Minister therefore promised to visit different LSMHP branches so to acquire more information on their activities.

The Assistant Director of Mencap Cymru in Wales, Mr. Wayne Crocker said the meeting aimed at briefing the Minister on health activities that his organisation is engaged in Lesotho. He added that it further paves way for development of stronger ties with the Ministry of Health thus enabling the ministry to address some of the challenges faced by people with mental disability in the country.

As part of the delegation’s visit in the country, delegates will donate a cheque amounting M20, 000 to LSMHP branch at Ha Tanka in Mafeteng next week.

The delegation that arrived in the country around March end is expected to leave the country on Thursday next week.

Mencap Cymru is an organisation of people with mental disability based in Wales. Its links with LSMHP started in 2000 and it aims to improve the lives and opportunities of children and adults with a learning disability together with their families.

Source: LENA 04/04/2008