download logo Her Majesty The Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso presented CHAL and LANFOD hospitals with medical and disability equipment at the event held at the Royal Palace in Maseru on Thursday.
The medical equipment was donated by the Queen’s National Trust Fund with the aim of addressing some of the health challenges of people with disabilities.
She thanked donors for the gesture, saying it will go a long way towards meeting the needs of hospitals and the disabled.
She further asked the recipients to take care of the equipment as they are proud of having contributed to improving healthcare in Basotho.
She also noted that in 2020 the Queens National Trust Fund (QNTF) provided oxygen concentrators to some hospitals and masks were also distributed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her Majesty The Queen noted that they have partnered with other donors such as Lesotho Millennium Development Agency, Maloti Rotary Club, Metropolitan and others to ensure that hospitals receive resources to improve quality health services in the country.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Development, Mr. Pitso Lesaoana thanked the Queens National Trust Fund/OBE Lesotho, who saw it as imperative to lend a helping hand to the vulnerable clientele they serve.
Mr. Lesaoana said that this will change the lives of the people who will receive them, as they will be able to effectively participate in social activities.
The minister said that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, parties must take appropriate measures to guarantee access for people with disabilities on equal terms with others to the physical environment, transportation and information.
Mr. Lesaoana said section 42 of the Disabled Equality Act advocates recognizing people with disabilities in relation to access to facilities, saying the Department of Social Development fully aligns with that notion when receiving the disability equipment.
He even mentions that they are all disabled at some point in their lives, adding that a child with a broken leg, a parent with a stroller, and an elderly person are all disabled in one way or another and those who remain healthy are and sound. all your lives are few.
He expressed his gratitude upon receiving this noble gift of equipment for the disabled that is donated by the Queen’s National Trust Fund/OBE Lesotho, saying that this gift will help recipients to optimally participate in all social activities as a result of its human rights value of freedom of movement will be restored.
On behalf of the donors, the Administrative Director of Metropolitan Lesotho, Ms. Mamello Phomane, said they believe in quality healthcare, hence the donation.
Mrs. Phomane said quality healthcare keeps them up at night, so when they received a request from the Queen’s Trust Fund to help transport the medical equipment, it wasn’t difficult for them to ensure the container left the UK and reached Lesotho for that Basotho receive this medical equipment.
In the same note, on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Tsepo Mpholo said they are honored by this gesture, saying it will help people with disabilities to overcome their daily challenges.
Mr. Mpholo said the equipment will help his hospitals to provide good medical services to Basotho, also ensuring that Basotho’s health care is improved.
Equipment included surgical gowns and gowns, incontinence pads, wheelchairs and crutches, among others.
Beneficiaries have included Makoanyane Military Hospital, LANFOD, as well as seven CHAL hospitals, which include Maluti Adventist, St. Joseph’s, Scott, St. James, Seboche, Tebellong and Paray.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Government of Lesotho.