Lesotho

Lesotho is a small mountainous country surrounded by South Africa. SolidarMed delivers medical care to remote villages in the north of the country.

A mountainous country in the middle of South Africa

Lesotho has the world’s second-highest HIV prevalence rate, with more than a fifth of adults HIV-positive. At the same time, non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and mental disorders are rising rapidly. In remote mountain communities in particular, people have scant access to healthcare.

Key facts

Maternal mortality

544 deaths per 100,000 live births
Under-5 mortality rate

90 deaths per 1,000 live births
HIV prevalence in the adult population

21% (1 in 5 is HIV-positive)
Doctors per 10,000 population

4.7 (Switzerland: 44)

Key facts

Lesotho

SolidarMed in Lesotho

For several decades, SolidarMed has been working to deliver better medical care to Lesotho’s remote mountain communities. Due to the high number of people infected, SolidarMed focuses on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. At the same time, non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and mental disorders are a growing priority.

Medical care for remote mountain communities

By means of mobile clinics and community health workers, SolidarMed delivers medical care to the remotest communities in the two districts of Butha-Buthe and Mokhotlong, reaching people who would not be able to make the sometimes arduous journey to the nearest health centre. This includes pregnant women and older people.

This grandmother walked to the mobile clinic with her grandchildren to get them vaccinated.

The peer educators meet once a month at the youth centre to exchange ideas and experiences and to learn from one another.

A community health worker educates a mother and her adult son about diabetes.

At the monthly meetings at the youth centre in Mokhotlong, peer educators share their experiences.

40% of people in Lesotho live in areas that are difficult to access.

Protecting adolescents

Poverty leads young women in the Mokhotlong District to get involved with older men working in the mines and construction. This results in unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and major psychological stress. SolidarMed improves access to sexual and reproductive services for adolescents and provides psychosocial support through youth centres and awareness campaigns.