Lesotho Aims To Increase HIV/AIDS, Health Cooperation With China, Ambassador Says

Lesotho hopes to increase cooperation with China on HIV/AIDS treatment and other health issues, Lesotho's ambassador to Beijing, Anthony Thibeli, said on Wednesday, Xinhua/CRIEnglish.com reports. China's first medical team to Lesotho arrived in 1997, and the second team arrived in 1999. A team of 15 Chinese doctors currently is working in health care centers throughout Lesotho. "Fifteen is a small number," Thibeli said, adding that Lesotho needs "more Chinese doctors to help us." Lesotho's Minister of Health and Social Welfare last year visited China to discuss cooperation between the two countries on the use of Chinese herbal medicines as HIV/AIDS treatments, doctor training and telemedicine.

Lesotho has decreased its HIV/AIDS prevalence to an estimated 26% from 31%, largely because of efforts to increase voluntary HIV testing, as well as access to no-cost counseling and treatment for people living with the virus, according to Thibeli (Xinhua/CRIEnglish.com, 1/23).