MCC invests $122M in Lesotho health system to address key challenges, including HIV, TB

Dec 9 2011

"The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), through its partnership with the Millennium Challenge Account-Lesotho, is helping Lesotho address key challenges in its health sector through a $122 million investment in health infrastructure and health systems," IIP Digital reports. "More than 720,000 Basotho are expected to benefit from the MCC health project over the next 20 years," the news service writes.

"A significant portion of MCA-Lesotho's health project is dedicated to rehabilitating 138 health centers that play a pivotal role in providing primary health care to residents in communities across the country," IIP Digital notes, adding that MCC will help "expand outpatient services in 14 hospitals, which will increase access to tuberculosis [TB] and antiretroviral treatments." In addition, the news service writes, "MCA-Lesotho also will build and equip a new National Referral Laboratory for improved laboratory and diagnostic services, a new National Blood Transfusion Service Center to assure adequate and safe blood supplies for HIV/AIDS patients, and a 120-bed dormitory and housing for teachers to increase the number of health professionals attending the National Health Training College. These major improvements will help Lesotho manage and prevent HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis pandemics in a sustainable way" (12/8).