CDC Division of Global HIV & TB country profile : Lesotho

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) office opened in the Royal Kingdom of Lesotho in 2007. CDC supports an integrated continuum of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) services, including improvementsin treatment, prevention, laboratory capacity, health management information systems, and public health policies. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and implementing partners, CDC provides technical assistance (TA) and administrative leadership in these program areas.Comprehensive HIV Treatment and Prevention Services: CDC works closely with the MOH and other in-country partners to scale-up HIV prevention and treatment services, including preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation services, integrated TB/HIV service delivery, and program activities using a targeted, district-based approach. CDC provides technical leadership in building human capacity for HIV/TB treatment programs through direct service delivery, TA, and mentoring health workers. In line with sustainable and equitable programming, CDC also supports comprehensive adolescent and young people HIV prevention services in selected districts strengthening bidirectional referrals between community and facility services for young people.Strengthening Laboratory Systems: CDC provides TA to implement quality laboratory systems for diagnosis, clinical monitoring, and evaluation of new test technologies. CDC, in partnership with its implementing partners, provides the necessary technical expertise in developing local capacity for effective coordination of laboratory programs, diagnostic services, information systems, and clinical services to improve national, regional, and clinical facility level public health service quality.Strengthening Strategic Information: CDC and its implementing partners support Lesotho\u2019s efforts to implement population-based surveys and public health surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and development of health information systems needed to advance the national HIV response, guide public health programming, and use data to inform decision-making and public health policies and associated implementation.Lesotho.pd