HIV and TB Overview: Lesotho

At a glance

CDC works with partners in Lesotho to strengthen the country's public health and clinical systems, deliver quality HIV testing and treatment services, and respond to emerging public health threats.

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Background

The CDC office opened in the Royal Kingdom of Lesotho in 2007. CDC supports an integrated continuum of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) services, including improvements in:

  • Treatment
  • Prevention
  • Laboratory capacity
  • Health management information systems
  • Public health policies

Download CDC Lesotho's Fact Sheet

Learn more about CDC's global HIV and TB work in Lesotho.

HIV and TB data

HIV/AIDS

Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)

Estimated AIDS Deaths (Age≥15)

Estimated Orphans Due to AIDS

Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (Age≥15)

Tuberculosis (TB)

Estimated TB Incidence

TB Patients with Known HIV-Status who are HIV-Positive

TB Treatment Success Rate

Key activities and accomplishments

HIV treatment services

CDC supports the national implementation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Consolidated Guidelines on the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs for Treating and Preventing HIV Infection. CDC’s treatment support is focused on attaining and sustaining the UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 HIV goals across all sexes and age groups in the 4 CDC supported districts (Berea, Leribe, Qacha’s Nek, and Quthing). 99 percent of adults and children have transitioned to optimized antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens in 2021 and 2022.

HIV and TB

CDC works closely with the MOH to improve ART uptake among people living with HIV (PLHIV) who have TB infection. Approximately 59% of persons with TB in Lesotho are co-infected with HIV. CDC funded HIV clinical services to integrate TB activities to identify and treat TB/HIV co-infection and Increase uptake of TB preventive therapy. Additionally, CDC enhanced TB case finding and treatment using the WHO-approved molecular diagnostics, chest x-rays, computer-aided diagnostics, and shortened TB treatment regimens.

Over 85 percent of PLHIV on ART completed TB preventive treatment.

HIV testing services

CDC provides TA to improve diagnostics, treatment quality, cost-effectiveness, and expand HIV testing services. Services include HIV self-testing, index testing and partner notification, recency testing, and use of HIV risk screening tools.

CDC played a critical role in Lesotho’s achievement of 90 percent of PLHIV knowing their HIV status. This includes increasing coverage of comprehensive family planning services for adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 through the DREAMS initiative. The 4 districts covered are: Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek.

Laboratory systems

CDC provides TA to Lesotho’s laboratory professionals, increasing their skills. CDC supported:

  • The expansion of laboratory facilities.
  • Quality improvement in HIV viral load (VL) testing.
  • Improvement in the procurement of VL tests.
    • Early infant diagnosis laboratory test reagents.
    • TB test supplies.

Strategic information

CDC supported two Lesotho Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (LePHIA). LePHIA is a national survey conducted in 2016 and 2020 that included HIV risk factors, incidence, and biomarkers. Results from the second LePHIA demonstrated:

  • 90 percent of persons >15 years of age living with HIV had been diagnosed.
  • 97 percent of those diagnosed were on ART.
  • 92 percent were virally suppressed.

These results indicate that Lesotho reached the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals by 2020. It is also well positioned to meet the 95-95-95 goals by 2025.

CDC supported implementation of the eRegister in 186 of 207 U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported facilities to ensure data quality and informed decision making.

Resources

Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts.

CDC's Division of Global HIV & TB activities are implemented as part of PEPFAR. Non-HIV related TB activities are supported by non-PEPFAR funding.

Our success is built on the backbone of science and strong partnerships.