Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Queen’s National Trust Fund established by Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso handed over disposable facemasks and sanitizers to the National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) as a contribution to the
fight against Covid-19 pandemic in Lesotho. The handover also marked the launch of the progamme called COVID-19 Obe Lesotho (COL), under the Queen’s National Trust Fund.
According to COL Chairperson Justice Nthomeng Majara, COL was established last year with the aim to collect contributions from volunteering donors and aid in the fight against Covid-19.
She said the Queen’s National Trust Fund is known for supporting and helping children especially those who come from vulnerable families and those in primary and high schools through paying their school fees, buying
them school uniform and stationary. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Her Majesty stated that Covid-19 has affected everyone and has brought difficulties around the
world. She said the rising numbers of infections, deaths of millions of people, the pressure that health centres experience, loss of jobs as well as resistance
in production of food have been affecting the country. She indicated that the pandemic has challenged health centres in developing countries including Lesotho.
The Queen mentioned that the worst challenge has been that of lack of enough oxygen to administer Covid-19 patients and thus the COL together with Lesotho Millennium Development
Agency (LMDA) joined to avail oxygen for Covid-9 designated health centres and have a long term plan to produce oxygen in the country to cater for other
emergencies that may arise post the pandemic. “From the first contributions, we were able to deliver 62×50 litres of oxygen cylinders to Teyateyaneng and Mafeteng health
centres, working together with the Ministry of Health and NACOSEC,” said Her Majesty. She stated that according to the reports by the ministry and NACOSEC, this oxygen made a huge impact within the facilities.
She said now the COL programme has delivered 70 000 disposable facemasks to NACOSEC and 10×50 litres of sanitizer to the 10 districts of Lesotho, saying the masks are to be
given to the health workers. She noted that the facemasks are a donation from Kindness Corporation which is in South Africa. Her Majesty encouraged the
nation to continue to adhere to the Covid-19 precautionary measures as the pandemic has not ended. She encouraged the wearing of masks at all times, especially
at crowded areas, washing of hands with soap and running water and social distancing. Furthermore, NACOSEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Malitaba Litaba informed that the infection rate has remained at the
controllable level of 5% after a promising drop from the 47% at the beginning of the year. She said they worked hard to ensure that those numbers are reduced.
“We are working hard to ascertain that Basotho get back to their old norms,” the CEO said.
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