Press Release: President Clinton Visits Lesotho to Highlight Progress of National HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Program

President Clinton will inaugurate new pediatric HIV/AIDS clinic to provide treatment to children living with HIV/AIDS.

President Bill Clinton will dedicate a new pediatric HIV/AIDS clinic at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Maseru, Lesotho on Monday, July 18, 2005. The clinic, established with the help of the Clinton Foundation, will enable greater numbers of children living with HIV/AIDS to receive treatment.

During his visit to Lesotho, President Clinton will also review the progress made by the Government of Lesotho in expanding access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment to its citizens. With the assistance of the Clinton Foundation, the government launched a public antiretroviral treatment program in 2004, which has already enrolled several thousand patients.

To jumpstart the treatment of children, the Clinton Foundation is providing a supply of pediatric formulation antiretroviral medicine (ARVs) as part of its Pediatric Initiative, which aims to increase the number of children receiving treatment from less than 100 presently to at least 750 by the end of the year. The goal of the initiative, which was launched in April, is to scale up the treatment of children so that more of the estimated 22,000 children living with HIV/AIDS in the country will be able to receive live-saving care.

“I am very honored to formally open this clinic, which I hope will benefit many children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. I am extremely impressed by the hard work and enthusiasm of the staff, as well as by the government’s commitment to the welfare of children living with HIV/AIDS,” said President Clinton. “Lesotho is helping to prove that pediatric HIV/AIDS treatment is indeed possible in the developing world.” During his visit to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, President Clinton will tour the pediatric ward, and meet some of the children who recently began to receive ARVs.

The Clinton Foundation, which is funding the refurbishment of the clinic, provided a supply of ARVs and other medications, and facilitated clinical training for the staff. UNICEF, one of the Clinton Foundation’s partners in the Pediatric Initiative, is providing the essential medical equipment and supplies that are needed for the clinic to begin operations, as well as training health personnel in pediatric HIV/AIDS.

The Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative has been working with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) since August 2004 to support its efforts to scale up HIV/AIDS care and treatment throughout the country. In addition to supporting the roll out of pediatric treatment for HIV/AIDS, the Clinton Foundation is helping the Government of Lesotho to procure low-cost ARVs and diagnostic tests; strengthen the capacity of the national HIV laboratory system; and train health workers in HIV/AIDS care and treatment.

During his visit, President Clinton will also meet with Prime Minister Mosisili and His Majesty King Letsie III, as well as senior officials involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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