Lesotho: Tackling diabetes and high blood pressure

Alarming increase in chronic diseases

Chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are an increasingly common cause of death in Lesotho and hamper social and economic development. To be able to tackle this issue as effectively as possible, SolidarMed collects detailed data on the prevalence of chronic diseases in the population, the number of people affected with and without access to therapy, and the occurrence of complications such as kidney damage.

Findings of the prestudy.

Adapting the health system to the new reality

Unlike for HIV, diagnosis and treatment possibilities for non-communicable diseases are lacking in many parts of Lesotho. Drugs and therapies are rarely available and are very expensive, and health workers are lacking the latest knowledge and equipment. SolidarMed therefore trains health workers, gets treatment guidelines modified and helps healthcare facilities procure medical equipment and drugs.

Community health workers: a tried and tested approach

The work of community health workers has proven very effective in tackling the HIV epidemic. SolidarMed is now testing various ways that community health workers could deliver medical care and carry out prevention work in the longer term for non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In the pilot trial between 2022 and 2025, more than 100 community health workers are travelling around Butha-Buthe and Mokhotlong to educate people in their homes, offer testing, and if necessary provide access to treatment. This reaches people in remote communities, while also providing valuable insights into the control of non-communicable diseases.