“Reimagine, Rebalance, Restart: Recovering together”, celebrating the UN’s 76th Anniversary in Lesotho

Maseru, 22 October 2021. The COVID19 pandemic as a shared global crisis, has affected economies, health systems, education and so much more of life as we knew it. Since the record of the first case in Lesotho in May 2020, the UN stayed and delivered through various COVID19 response and recovery interventions in support of the Government of Lesotho.

The UN supported the capacity building of health personnel on COVID-19 prevention and care in health facilities across the country, more recently, with all the 206 health facility staff being capacitated on COVID19 vaccine administration. The UN further supported government in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility, with the country having now administered at least 383 341 doses (about 11% of the population), exceeding the target set by WHO that by the end of September 2021, every country and territory should have vaccinated 10% of its population.

Women were also supported with maternal health services, an effort for the continuity of health essential health services. Over 800 000 people and 500 000 school learners benefited from improved access to water and sanitation, which is key in the protection against COVID19 through the provision of handwashing facilities throughout the country.

The UN day was commemorated through a UN Fair under the theme: “Recovering together” an opportune moment for the UN, on its 76th Anniversary, to reflect and celebrate joint achievements and impact of the various COVID19 response programmes across all the UN agencies in Lesotho.

“I have come here today to salute the United Nations and the people of Lesotho for the progress in transforming this great Kingdom into a prosperous, peaceful and stable nation. We are all aware that we still have a long way to the optimum ‘Lesotho We want’,” remarked the UN Resident Coordinator a.i, Betty Wabunoha at the opening ceremony.

She highlighted the importance of working together in finding ways to collectively find solutions to complex challenges that face the country including COVID19.

Further, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Matshepo Ramakoae, reiterated the importance of  “building back better” from the pandemic which has affected millions of people, however, commending the UN in continuing to work with the government in the fight against it, and in its effort in assisting the country to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2030, or the Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond the COVID19 response, the UN continues to support the government in the promotion of good governance, rule of law and human rights, gender responsive social protection systems, sustainable economic growth, food security and decent jobs, and sustainable natural resource use.