Africa-Press – Lesotho. Her Royal Highness Senate Mohato Seeiso pleads with the government of Lesotho, individuals and the business community to mobilize resources towards charity in
this critical era of the Covid-19 pandemic. “As a future generation, we call on individuals, business community, the United Nations (UN) family, and governments to pull their resources together in order
to serve humanity,” she said. Her Royal Highness was speaking at the handing over of donations from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA)
and Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) to a group of ten (10) girls. The girls were selected as representatives of a bigger group of 2500 beneficiaries of the aid.
The packages consisted of menstrual and general hygiene items intended to relief young girls and women. Princess Senate received and handed the aid to the beneficiaries.
She thanked the donors citing that the aid would ease the recipients’ burden of having to search for alternative items to maintain a dignified life. She maintains that food alone does
not make life complete, thus there is a need for supplementary hygiene items to provide necessary comfort to their daily lives. “On behalf of their Majesties as patrons of LRCS, I am grateful to receive this
great investment to humanity from UNFPA. UNFPA through UN Central Emergency Response fund, availed about M1.4 million to LRCS. Beyond the packages that we see here today, the funds are being used to provide
lifesaving education lessons on menstrual hygiene and education against Gender Based Violence (GBV) and educational messages that are being offered in the
districts of Maseru, Mokhotlong, Mafeteng, Mohales’ Hoek and Quthing,” she said. She reclined that although the programme was designed to respond to drought in
Lesotho, it is even more appropriate and helpful under the Covid-19 pandemic as people cannot afford basic needs due to price escalation and other competing
needs. She said Lesotho seems unable trapped in recurring droughts “and now Covid-19 has compounded the already challenging situation by placing more people in
difficult situation,” therefore she remains hopeful that the efforts of LRCS and UNFPA will save lives of many. “Speaking on behalf of my peers, young women and girls that most regrettably bear the
brunt of victimization for gender based violence, we wish to sincerely implore you to continue fighting for girls. We all need and service a safe country in
which all girls and mothers live in peace,” she concluded. Meanwhile, UNFPA Representative Lesotho Dr. Marc Derveeuw agreed thus, “women and girls are at the top of UNFPA’s mandate which is, to ensure continuity of Sexual
Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), as part of essential services during Covid-19. ” UNFPA also works with different stakeholders to reduce the impact of GBV and
other unwanted practices such as teenage pregnancy. He said challenges facing young girls and women are exacerbated as a result of Covid-19, such as GBV and cyber bullying.
He then congratulated Her Royal Highness on efforts in pursuing issues around the wellness of young girls in Lesotho, especially child marriage, going on to
thank her for her role in the endeavor by UNFPA and LRCS. On the same note, LRCS Secretary General Kopano Masilo embraced the participation of Princess Senate.
Moving on he stated that as LSRC’s mandate is also to deliver humanitarian services to Basotho in the most transparent and efficient way wherever and whenever there’s a need, they stand committed.
He said that young girls and women are severely affected by drought, wherein women go through stress of keeping homes running even when resources run out due to
drought, while young girls often become victims of GBV which is where the programme intervenes. Masilo maintains that the donation is not all the program has to offer as there’s more that includes information dissemination
of lifesaving messages for young girls, thereby grooming a better future in the process. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Informative Newspaper, one of the
beneficiaries whose name is withheld expressed her gratitude to the donors citing that the aid would go a long way in helping them with hygiene and give
them confidence during moon cycles. She admitted that a lack in the regard affects their education as they sometimes do not attend school due to the unavailability of sanitary towels.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
