CDC in Lesotho

HIV is a leading cause of death and a health threat to millions worldwide. As a key implementer of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC works with Lesotho to build a sustainable, high-impact national HIV response program to accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS global targets to control the HIV epidemic.

CDC supports the Ministry of Health’s efforts around HIV and tuberculosis (TB) treatment, improving health information systems, increasing laboratory capacity, preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and HIV counseling and testing. Additionally, CDC works with the ministry on diagnosis, treatment, and management of TB, multidrug- resistant TB, and HIV/TB co-infection. CDC provides technical leadership in building human capacity for HIV/TB treatment programs by supporting training and mentoring for health workers. CDC also supports Lesotho’s efforts to strengthen surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and health information systems needed for the national HIV response.

CDC provides technical assistance to implement quality laboratory systems, diagnosis and monitoring tests, and new diagnostic technologies. In partnership with implementing partners, CDC provides technical expertise in developing local capacity for effective coordination of laboratory programs to improve service quality.

CDC has played a key role in Lesotho’s efforts to scale-up laboratory capacity for viral load testing. CDC supported three new facilities to conduct testing and procured viral load/early infant diagnosis reagents and TB test supplies for the national program. Lesotho now has the capacity to provide viral load testing for all patients receiving HIV treatment.

CDC and partners support Lesotho’s efforts to implement surveys and surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and health information systems needed for the national HIV response.

CDC supported the Lesotho population-based HIV impact assessment (PHIA), a national survey conducted in 2016-2017 that included HIV risk factors and biomarkers. Results of the survey showed that 81% of persons 15-59 years of age living with HIV in Lesotho had been diagnosed, 92% of individuals who had been diagnosed were on treatment, and 88% of those on treatment were virally suppressed. These results indicate that Lesotho is making good progress towards the UNAIDS goal of 90-90-90 by 2020.