By Phumla Moleko

The National AIDS Commission (NAC) will continue to offer financial support to the HIV and AIDS Implementing Partners (IPs) during the current financial year 2009/2010, and the first to benefit are the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN), the National University of Lesotho and Care Lesotho.

The Lesotho Council of Non Governmental Organisations (LCN) has been awarded a total of M3, 710, 495.20 for a one year project, which will be disbursed in four quarters of the financial year. The first disbursement of M1, 561, 285.35 has already been done and received by the LCN to undertake HIV and AIDS interventions within various Non- governmental Organisations that are affiliated to LCN.

According to the Section Head of Grants Management at NAC Mrs ‘Mampho Nts’ekhe, NAC has financed Civil Society HIV and AIDS Support Project which is aimed at enhancing capacity of Civil Society Organisations involved in executing interventions which have proved to have positive impact to the national response. She said the intention is to further support LCN to strengthen its HIV and AIDS related programmes to ensure attainment of the national objectives and to accelerate behavioural change among Basotho.

The Acting Executive Director for LCN Mrs ‘Mabulara Ts’uene indicated that the support as outlined is expected to enhance the thrust, competence and participation of LCN and her member NGOs in HIV and AIDS programmes. “The first component relating to implementation of the National Strategic Plan is anticipated to promote awareness and prevention campaigns of NGOs in various sectors” she clarified.

Mrs Ts’uene clarfied that the second component prepares the LCN to become the Principal Recipient of the Global fund Round 8, adding that the support was necessary to ensure that LCN has an appropriate capacity and systems in place. She commended that being a major stakeholder in HIV and AIDS issues, it was proper for NAC to provide this support, and the expectation is that LCN will have a major contribution in the fight against the pandemic.

The project will be implemented in collaboration with member organisations that are already playing an active role in HIV and AIDS issues. member organisations include Women and Law in Southern Africa (WILSA), Lesotho Girl Guides Association (LGGA), Anti Drug Abuse Association of Lesotho (ADAAL), Khutsong Sekamaneng Women in Action Against Poverty (KSWAAP), Lesotho Teachers Trade Union (LTTU), Tsepong Counselling Centre (TCC), Patriot Vision in Action (PAVA) among others.

The National University of Lesotho (NUL) has been awarded funding to a tune of M267 925.00. The overall objective of the NUL-CONSULS project is to strengthen the NUL response to HIV and AIDS through education, institutional prevalence assessment, access to counselling and provision of ARVs. Other objectives of the project include promoting preventive and self-care education of students and staff; providing on-going counselling and informed testing and improvement of NUL health services.

The Care Lesotho Project on the other hand has been awarded a total of M1 344 137.00. CARE Lesotho’s overall objective is capacity building of Community Based Organizations, support for prevention and self-reliance to out of school youth, herdboys, ex-miners, sex workers and people in high transit areas, ART adherence and literacy support.

The National AIDS Commission has been funding Implementing Partners focusing on a variety of HIV and AIDS interventions since 2007.