VZCZCXRO8512
PP RUEHDU RUEHJO
DE RUEHMR #0298/01 1741004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 231004Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2123
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2404

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000298 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/S, AF/EPS AND OGAC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KHIV PREL KDEM SOCI LT
SUBJECT: DAS THOMPSON'S VISIT TO LESOTHO 
 
 
MASERU 00000298  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African 
Affairs Carol Thompson visited Maseru June 14-16 following her 
attendance at the Second Annual President's Emergency Plan for 
AIDS Relief Conference in Durban, South Africa.  She met with 
the First Lady of Lesotho, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Acting 
Foreign Minister/Minister of Education, Ministers of Finance, 
Trade, Natural Resources, leading members of Parliament, key 
partners in health, civil society, leaders of faith based 
organizations (FBO's), the media and the business community. 
DAS Thompson visited USG-funded health projects in the Maseru 
area.  Income-generating projects for persons affected by 
HIV/AIDS, and Lesotho's central referral hospital.  DAS Thompson 
commented on Lesotho's excellent example of partnership in the 
face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Ambassador Perry took the 
opportunity of DAS Thompson's visit to reemphasize to the GOL 
our support for its sustained commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS 
and the country's advances in democracy and economic growth and 
to express our support for peaceful and fair general elections 
in 2007.    End Summary 
 
¶2. In her discussions with several Ministers during the 
Ambassador's dinner at the CMR, DAS Thompson commended Lesotho 
on the leadership of government, especially the Prime Minister 
and King, in addressing HIV awareness and actions to combat the 
stigma and spread of the epidemic, including openly being 
tested.  Ms. Thompson and the Ministers discussed the many 
challenges facing the Basotho people including a lack of medical 
personnel and facilities, the disparity in gender awareness of 
HIV and how the government is dealing with HIV within its own 
ranks.  They addressed Lesotho's role as the next chair of the 
Southern African Development Community and the leadership they 
hoped to transfer to that body.  Lesotho's Millennium Challenge 
Account (MCA) proposal was also discussed, with the Ambassador 
stressing the importance of the revised proposed Compact being 
submitted to the MCC as soon as possible. 
 
¶3. Ms. Thompson met with leaders of FBOs to discuss their role 
in addressing the HIV epidemic.  In Lesotho, FBO's have formed a 
number of inter-denominational organizations through which they 
address common issues such as HIV.  They take advantage of the 
presence of churches and clergy throughout the country to 
counter the sparse infrastructure and general lack of 
communication and transport.  The clergy are being trained as 
first responders with accurate information and lessons of 
abstinence and being faithful.  Catholic Relief Services, in 
partnership with Peace Corps, presented a project to empower 
orphans and vulnerable children (OVC's), who now number 
approximately 180,000. 
 
¶4. Ms. Thompson visited Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, the main 
public referral hospital in the country and there spoke to 
senior government health officials.  She was able to observe 
first hand the resource and staffing challenges.  Hospital 
managers noted that the demand for ART is extremely high, taxing 
the facilities limited resources, leaving patients (often 100's) 
waiting in the cold for the one physician available.  Ms. 
Thompson visited the site of a USG- funded program to prevent 
parent to child transmission. 
 
¶5. At Sea Point, one of the oldest and scrabble poor 
neighborhoods of Maseru, Ms. Thompson met with the First Lady of 
Lesotho, Mrs. Mosisili, who supports many community-based 
palliative care and orphan and vulnerable children organizations 
at an income-generating project benefiting OVC's and HIV 
positive Basotho.  The Project Director stressed the need for 
increased support in order to reach more community residents. 
 
¶6. Ms. Thompson toured the USG-funded HIV testing and counseling 
center of Population Services International (PSI), where she 
observed the response by Basotho to government leadership and 
U.S. support to the Know Your Status campaign.  She spoke at 
length with program staff.   PSI officials noted that the 
organizations's monthly client load (from the 5 such facilities 
in Lesotho has grown to nearly 2000.  They urged continued 
support for VCT centers.    DAS Thompson stressed the importance 
of such facilities as part of the "ABC" approach to combating 
HIV, to which PSI staff responded affirmatively and said they 
had emphasized abstinence among youth in urban and rural areas. 
 
¶7. DAS Thompson also discussed various issues with diverse 
groups including: 
 
- The dinner with Ministers, heads of U.S.-based foundations and 
private sector members focusing on the U.S.-Lesotho bi-lateral 
relationship. 
 
- A lunch with stakeholders in civil society, the diplomatic 
corps, the media and health in which she emphasized  the U.S. 
policy and programs in Lesotho regarding issues such as 
 
MASERU 00000298  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
HIV/AIDS, democratization, and regional cooperation.  Ms. 
Thompson noted that the USG currently contributes over $ 7 
million annually to help Lesotho fight HIV/AIDS. 
 
- A dinner with health leaders from parliament, civil society 
and the private sector that focused on the challenges and 
sustainability of the health sector and the private-public, 
regional and continental partnerships. 
 
¶8.  Comment:  The very busy visit provided an opportunity for 
DAS Thompson to see first-hand efforts underway to combat 
HIV/AIDS and the daunting challenges that remain.  Also, Ms. 
Thompson met with a variety of influential Basotho, who greatly 
appreciated the chance to discuss issues of mutual concern. 
The visit also provided strong confirmation of the USG's keen 
interest in Lesotho and commitment to assist the country and its 
people on vital matters such as HIV/AIDS, consolidation of 
democracy, and economic growth.  End Comment 
 
DAS Thompson did not clear this message sent after her departure. 
PERRY