In a bid to intensify efforts towards preventing HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) amongst risk populations such as key populations, migrants and youth, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), have initiated a project on preventing HIV transmission and improved access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights information and services along Lesotho’s three borders.

The Comprehensive HIV prevention
project dubbed “Along the Borders,” is aimed at reducing HIV incidences and
risky behavior among the youth and key populations along three border posts of Maseru,
Maputsoe, and Van Rooyen’s Gate.

These are the busiest borders which are deemed highly porous and catalytic to transmission of new HIV infections hence the project is targeting migrants, long distance truck drivers, youth and key populations along these borders.

The project which is scheduled to
take eight months ending in December 2020 with possibility of extension based
on availability of funding, has engaged peer educators whose role is to
mobilize the target populations, and facilitate their access to health
services, link them to nearby health facilities, and ensure that they access
integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV services.

They are also expected to organize outreach activities for the target populations, distribute contraceptives in identified hot spots with clear refill plans, provide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, and be advocates/champions that influence their peers to access HIV and SRHR services.

The project has been prompted by results of LePHIA (2018) which have shown HIV incidences estimated at 13000 annually, and showed that the most affected populations as 70-73.3% Female Sex workers, 31.1-33% men sleeping with men (MSM) and 29.8-31.8% migrant populations.

When the project ends, it is
expected that 14,876 mobile populations, youth and key populations around the
three target borders will be more knowledgeable of HIV prevention, engage in
safer sexual behavior practices, and/or have a reduced rate of HIV infection through
regular use of prevention technologies and services.