Development worker strengthens government campaign to cut HIV and AIDS in Lesotho

When mother-of-three Masintle Motseone finally plucked up the courage to have an HIV test in Lesotho, the nurse revealed her result by blurting out "You've got AIDS."

Mastintle's experience was one of many that informed the work of Purity Ngare ^{(photo left, © Skillshare/Justice Kalebe)}, a Skillshare International Ireland development worker at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Skillshare International Ireland's partner in Lesotho. Purity played her part in tackling the country's extremely high HIV and AIDS rate - 23.2 per cent of adults - by strengthening the government's 'Know Your Status' campaign to increase public use of HIV and AIDS services.

Arriving in 2005 from Kenya where she'd worked with children with HIV and AIDS, Purity, 32, said: "The Basotho (people) expected me to speak their language, even soon after arrival! They thought that since I am an African, I should know (the language of) Sesotho." Purity learnt quickly. Skillshare International Ireland's Director Fran Flood, who visited Lesotho in August 2006, said: "Her work was hugely impressive and it was clear that she was very highly regarded by her colleagues."

Purity's job as Behaviour Change Communications Adviser, supported by Irish Aid, was to strengthen services by training health professionals in counselling skills, developing education materials and contributing to the government's strategy. The communications aimed to change people's behaviour to prevent infection, encourage them to take an HIV test and deal with the result, access treatment, banish myths and encourage them to support others living with HIV and AIDS.

Purity said: "I later visited a health facility and met a nurse-counsellor I'd trained who told me the communication skills I'd taught her were very useful. She said she listened to patients more keenly and observed their non-verbal behaviour more. I felt completely valued and that my contribution made a real difference to people's lives." Indeed the achievements of Purity and others have enabled Skillshare International Ireland to extend its work on HIV and AIDS in the region until 2009.

The greatest barrier to HIV and AIDS treatment in Lesotho however is poverty, said Skillshare International's country programme officer in Lesotho, Lydia 'Mapaballo' Mile. She said people living with HIV and AIDS "do not have a regular supply of food, essential for successful antiretroviral therapy, and cannot pay transport costs and fees for health services because most are unemployed and living in very poor socio-economic conditions."

Despite these hurdles Masintle, who has known she is HIV positive for five years now, has started two support groups and educates people in an antenatal clinic and local villages about HIV and AIDS. Before Purity left Lesotho this May, she asked Masintle what challenges she has faced as a result of her HIV status. "Many", Masintle replied, "but they have helped make me stronger."

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