The Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro on Wednesdays officiated the sod turning of the construction of the new Maseru District Hospital at the ceremony held in Maseru.
The construction of the Maseru District Hospital commonly known as Queen Elizabeth II Hospital is funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to a tune of M800m and it is expected to start operating in 2023.
Speaking at the event, Dr Majoro thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China for this substantial grant, saying this testifies to the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
He added that the new Maseru District Hospital will be a modern facility that intends to provide improved health services to Maseru residents and others, singling out services that include eye care, cancer, TB, HIV and non-communicable diseases including vis telemedicine platforms.
Dr Majoro added that 100 Basotho will be employed during the construction and that constructors from China are already in the country.
When completed, the new hospital will have a total of 200 beds, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister further mentioned that the new hospital will serve as a national referral hospital together with Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital, saying this will reduce the congestion that Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital faced in the past years.
Speaking at the same event, the Ambassador of China to Lesotho, Ambassador Kezhong Lei said the relation between the two countries goes a long way and the day’s events prove to strengthen the relations between the two, noting that the relationship between Lesotho and China is a true reflection of China-Africa relationship.
Ambassador Lei said COVID-19 has also brought the two countries together as they have been working together in the area of health to fight this pandemic.
Also speaking, the Minister of Development Planning, Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane noted that this is one of the 15 projects that the government of Lesotho has submitted to the government of China under the Forum of China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC).
Also present at the ceremony included the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Mathibeli Mokhothu, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament.