Image
Texas Children's Global Health Baylor Foundation Lesotho
In 2005, a partnership was formed between Baylor Foundation Lesotho and the Government of Lesotho to address the care of children living with HIV. The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s Secure the Future initiative donated the funds to construct and equip the Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence (COE) in Maseru, which was inaugurated by His Majesty King Letsie III on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2005. Baylor Foundation Lesotho now operates additional Satellite Clinical Centres of Excellence (SCOEs) in five of the country’s 10 districts: Qacha’s Nek, Mohale’s Hoek, Leribe, Butha Buthe, and Mokhotlong, as well as an adolescent clinic on the Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital premises for those aged 14-20 years of age. The basic operations of all clinical sites are funded by the Government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Health.
Although at its inception Baylor Foundation Lesotho was primarily focused on providing pediatric HIV services, its scope has expanded over the years. We now provide services inclusive of TB screening, diagnosis and care; immunizations for children under 5 years; nutrition services; adult HIV services (testing, care and treatment, PEP, PrEP); cervical cancer screening; and a men’s clinic. In addition to clinical and educational services provided at our COEs, we offer services in districts where we do not have COEs through projects such as PINCH, PROTECT, ETHICS, KB, PUSH, MELD and STAR-L. Furthermore, some of our staff members participate in Ministry of Health technical working groups that develop, review and amend National Health policies, priorities, and guidelines. They also participate in the training of healthcare workers on various issues affecting the health of children and families.
At a Glance
LOCATION:
FOUNDED:
BUDGET (USD):
EMPLOYEES:
PATIENTS:
PROFESSIONALS TRAINED:
MASERU, LESOTHO
2005
19.2 MILLION
383
5,062
1,245
Notable Programs
KB Lesotho
Karabo ea Bophelo, which translates to a solution to good health, is a 5-year project that is led by Baylor Foundation Lesotho. The project is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development. This project aims to reduce HIV infection rate and vulnerability among orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as well as adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). By providing support for HIV prevention and mitigation, this project will lessen the impact of HIV on OVC and AGYW by improving access to reproductive and sexual health services.
The KB project will work in tandem with existing services in the areas to help reduce the impact of HIV/AIDs on the region. KB activity will contribute to the PEPFAR and Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS 95-95-95 goals by strengthening community engagement and support of local clinical services. This initiative will be implemented in all 10 districts of Lesotho which are PEPFAR priority areas. Thus far, the project has reached a total of 42,463 orphans and vulnerable children, 47% of the overall annual target of 90,062 beneficiaries.
Expanding TB & HIV Clinical Services (Ethics)
Baylor Foundation Lesotho received a USAID grant to implement the Expanding TB and HIV Clinical Services (ETHICS) project in the two districts of Butha Buthe and Mokhotlong, the Maseru COE and Mohale’s Hoek SCOE. The three-year ETHICS project was launched November 2019. The goal is to attain HIV epidemic control and sustained reduction in HIV transmission, morbidity, and mortality through saturation of HIV and TB prevention, care and treatment services. Between December 2019 and June 2020, project activities included direct service delivery, onsite mentorship and training at supported sites. 716 people living with HIV were enrolled into care, including 668 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV.
Strengthening Tuberculosis & AIDS Response Through District-based Programming In Lesotho (STAR-L)
Baylor Foundation Lesotho is a sub-recipient of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) on this five- year project to implement a comprehensive package of HIV services in four districts of Lesotho: Leribe, Berea, Quthing and Qacha’s Nek. The project’s overarching goal is to reduce the impact of HIV and TB on the health of Basotho through mentorship, training, direct service delivery and technical assistance. The project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is in its final year of implementation. Baylor Foundation Lesotho specifically contributes to case identification and treatment of children and adolescents at high volume facilities in Berea and Leribe. During the implementation period July 2019 to June 2020, 30,395 HIV tests were performed.
Protecting Women, Infants & Children From HIV in Lesotho (PINCH)
PINCH is a three-year project supported by The Global Fund which aims to increase uptake of maternal-child health services, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) as evidenced by increased antenatal care attendance, higher PMTCT coverage rates, timely testing of HIV-exposed infants at six weeks of age, and treatment of all infected infants. The project operates in the five highlands districts of Lesotho and implementation focuses on healthcare workers as well as communities. Mentorship and supervision are done to effect behavior change of healthcare workers, whereas community efforts focus on young women, their partners, and mothers. A total of 1,908 healthcare workers, including village health workers, were trained and mentored on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-related topics.
Providing Prevention & Treatment For Young People (PROTECT)
PROTECT is a three-year project that started in July 2018 and is funded by The Global Fund, which aims to achieve an AIDS-free population of adolescents and young people through provision of community-based HIV and family planning services. The project operates in all the districts of Lesotho except for Maseru and Berea. Services are offered through mobile clinics and include HIV testing, same day ART initiation for those testing positive, screening and management of sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive services as well as TB screening.
More than 9,500 adolescents and young people were tested for HIV
Patient Stories
Mamokoena Malaka
My name is ‘Mamokoena Malaka, I am a caregiver and a patient at Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation – Lesotho. Services that I get at Baylor Foundation Lesotho are of high-quality standard. Clinical staff really care for caregivers and patients. They love and respect their clients. They help everyone and no one goes home without being seen or getting services they need. They also refer patients appropriately if necessary. The approach of staff towards caregivers and patients is so sweet, kind and lovely. Really Foundation staff are doing amazing job and that is why Baylor Foundation Lesotho is called Center of Excellence.
I also work at the COE as a Treatment Literacy Liaison. My job is to ensure good understanding of medication by patients and caregivers. As an employee the Foundation gave me an opportunity to be part of Baylor Foundation Lesotho family. The Foundation offered me the chance to use my skills and knowledge to help caregivers and patients. At Baylor Foundation Lesotho we work as a team and share work hence there is no work fatigue or stress. It gave me an opportunity to improve my knowledge and skills by attending Psychosocial Support (PSS) workshops. It allowed me to grow up and be the person I am today. Thank you very much Baylor Foundation Lesotho for providing me so much.
Matsitso Mohoanyane
I am Matsitso Mohoanyane working at the Ministry of Health as a Pediatric HIV Coordinator. I wish to express my profound appreciation to Baylor Foundation Lesotho for the highest level of quality preventive, care and treatment services, patient monitoring, education and training for health professionals, and operational research to improve patient care for children and adolescents as well as their families in the country. Although at its inception Baylor Foundation Lesotho was primarily focused on providing pediatric HIV services, its scope has expanded over the years.
Their continued engagement and support to the Ministry of Health as it strives to improve the health and lives of the children and adolescent and their families in Lesotho is tremendous. Baylor Foundation Lesotho expanded its clinical and educational efforts to Lesotho at the time when the expertise to manage pediatrics in Lesotho was challenged and had bearing on the children survival and health outcomes., Today, I can confidently say Lesotho has reached the 90-90-90 milestones through the immense support of the Foundation. The Baylor Foundation Lesotho satellite clinics that are in the districts of Lesotho have further enabled the children in the remote areas to access health services from the expert and have contributed to the universal coverage. Furthermore, some of the Foundation staff members participate in Ministry of Health technical working groups that develop, review and amend National Health policies, priorities, and guidelines.
In order to optimize treatment for people living with HIV in Lesotho and continue to simplify treatment and improve clinical outcomes, Lesotho introduced Dolutegravir based antiretroviral therapy for adults and children whose weight is more than 20kg, and expanded access to lopinavir/ ritonavir pellets for children below 20kg. Baylor Foundation Lesotho clinicians were involved in drafting the National ART guidelines addendum to this effect developing the training materials as well as job aides for health personnel. The overall health system will never be the same with the presence of Baylor Foundation Lesotho.
Featured Videos
Leadership & Partnerships
Leadership
Lineo K. Thahane, M.D.
Executive Director
Partnerships
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Ministry of Health Lesotho
- Texas Children’s Hospital
- Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
- United States Agency International Development (USAID) PEPFAR
- Global Fund
- Ministry of Finance Project Management Unit Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Annual Reports
Read about our achievements and growth.
Featured Stories
Global Health symposium draws more than 500 participants for an exchange of ideas on innovation
Texas Children’s Global Health Network, in partnership with the Baylor College of Medicine, hosted its first-ever virtual Research. Art. Innovation. Scholarship. Education (RAISE) Symposium from June 28 to July 2, drawing more than 500 registered participants from more than 20 countries across the world.
Let’s not forget the most vulnerable children around the globe in the COVID-19 pandemic
Even if children are largely spared from COVID-19 direct effects, the pandemic will still cause long-lasting indirect impacts on children globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Fighting to close the GAP on global pediatric TB care
Building upon the energy of Global TB Program staff members and with nearly a decade of robust TB experience and innovation, the Global TB Program was most recently awarded a five-year, $5 million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant that will operate from September 2020 through September 2025.
Connect with Texas Children’s Global Health Network and stay informed about
our efforts to empower communities to build healthier, happier and more prosperous futures.
