HIV and AIDS
Envisioning an AIDS-free generation where all children and their families are protected from HIV infection
Challenge
Lesotho has made gains toward epidemic control, but children and adolescents remain vulnerable. About 30 per cent of all new infections among adults aged 15+ years are female youths aged 15-24 years, driven by gender inequality, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, and high rates of gender-based violence. Many children living with HIV remain undiagnosed or untreated— there is a wide discrepancy between maternal ART coverage (96 per cent, 2024) and its coverage amongst children aged 0 – 14 years (88 per cent, 2024), especially amongst whom acquired HIV during pregnancy, at delivery, or during the breastfeeding period.
Access to HIV services remains uneven, particularly in rural and remote areas where low quality of services including limited skilled human resources, weak health infrastructure, and persistent stigma continue to hinder uptake of testing and treatment. Delivery of adolescent-friendly and integrated HIV services is not yet consistent across all levels of the health systems, and the links between maternal, child, adolescent health and HIV services are often fragmented. Limited community outreach, coordination challenges, and a decline in donor funding further affect the sustainability and reach of the national HIV response.
Solution
UNICEF supports a comprehensive, rights-based approach to HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care for children, adolescents, and women. This includes strengthening early infant diagnosis and scaling up paediatric antiretroviral therapy, with a focus on closing the treatment gap among children and eliminating vertical transmission through integrated maternal and child health services.
UNICEF works with the Ministry of Health to build the capacity of health workers, expand community health outreach, and improve adolescents’ access to HIV, sexual and reproductive health services. Efforts also focus on reducing stigma, promoting health-seeking behaviours, and ensuring continuity of care through digital health innovations and strong referral systems.
UNICEF’s HIV response prioritises adolescent-friendly health services, integration of HIV into maternal and child healthcare, and investments in strengthening health systems and supply chains. Through community engagement and youth-led advocacy, UNICEF promotes awareness, demand for services, and reduction of stigma. Through strategic partnerships, UNICEF advocates for sustained financing and multi-sectoral coordination to improve health outcomes of newborns, children, adolescents, and women. By strengthening health systems and empowering young people, UNICEF aims to achieve an AIDS-free generation for children in Lesotho.