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.