MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 23/08/10

The Maseru district, under the auspices of the District AIDS Committee, will convene for a one day bi-annual HIV and AIDS Partnership Forum on Thursday August 26, 2010 at the Victoria hotel.

The objective of the Partnership Forum is to evaluate bi-annual district progress on implementation of the Annual Operational Plan; by taking stock on all HIV and AIDS interventions and efforts in scaling-up responses by all implementing partners in the district.

The main presentation of the forum will be the district bi-annual report, which will show overall performance of the district through interventions implemented by stakeholders. The National AIDS Commission will also provide an update on the Lesotho Output Monitoring System for HIV and AIDS (LOMSHA), which provides guidance to all HIV and AIDS stakeholders in the country in terms of monitoring and evaluation of programmatic activities.

 Other presentations for the day include progress on Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) and community HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) services by St. Joseph hospital and New Start. PHELA Health and Development Communications will also provide feedback on the youth life skills study it has undertaken.

Stakeholders who will participate at the forum include representatives from Government Ministries, Civil Society, Private Sector and District Authorities.

Media Contacts:
Section Head, Advocacy & Communications— Phumla Moleko (Mrs)
Communications Officer— Mpolokeng Mpeli (Mrs)
3rd Floor Maseru Sun Hotel Office Block, Orpen Road, Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa
P O Box 11232, Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa
(+266) 22 326794 (Office—Directorate of Policy, Strategy & Communications)
58885858 (Phumla) • 63106332 (Mpolokeng) • 22 327 210 (facsimile) • molekop@nas.org.ls