Lesotho through the success of both community and facility based HIV testing initiatives is at the stage close to achieving HIV identification targets for the epidemic control. Although there has been much success reaching majority of the population, the largest testing gaps still exist among men and boys throughout the country. For the country to achieve its testing targets, these subsets of the population need to be reached with targeted testing messages and HIV services.
Stigma against HIV still exist among the population and the religious beliefs and practices have been identified as a major driver for the perpetuation. Therefore, CHAL and PSI with the support from CDC partnered in February 2020 to reach these populations with targeted HIV testing services in five districts of Lesotho, namely: Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, Butha-Buthe, Qacha’s Nek and Quthing. However, this initiative has come to an end this month of July, 2021.
During this partnership, faith leaders of CHAL disseminated messages of hope to faith community to encourage faith community to access HIV services and CHAL facilities provided HIV services to people tested positive under this initiative. We thank our faith leaders for their participation in this project for disseminating messages of hope in their respectful houses of worship and believe will continue to encourage their congregations to access HIV services in CHAL facilities.
Nonetheless, CHAL facilities will continue to provide HIV comprehensive services even after the end of the initiative. HIV services are FREE in CHAL facilities.
