Mohale’s Hoek, July 09 — Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr. Rets’elisitsoe Matlanyane has pleaded with parents to have meaningful discussions with adolescent girls regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) instead of leaving that responsibility to teachers.
Dr. Matlanyane stated this when delivering her keynote address at the World Population Day event held at Ha Lekhema, after receiving donations of Calibrated Drapes, Linens and other medical supplies from UNFPA by pointing out that realizing aspirations of young people is a joint responsibility between government, development partners, NGO’s, Chiefs, traditional leaders, parents and youth.
The latter further asserted that Mohale’sHoek in particular, young girls form a part of 51.6 percent of youth that are not in training, working or in education, adding this answers a question on why young people are having children, it is because they are idling.
“I was shocked when Dr. Kojana was giving numbers of young girls who getting pregnant, these numbers are not just figures, they represent the life of our children, dreams that are taking forever to come true as well as unused and abandoned talent, but the government will work hard to find solutions to the challenges by joining forces with development partners, and invest more money in youth, to assist with skills, education and job creation, so that our country benefits,” Dr. Matlanyane indicated.
On the other hand, Minister of Health ‘Mamokete Nts’ekhe appreciated UNFPA for the generous donation by noting that contributions came at a critical time when the World is commemorating the World Population Day under the theme, ‘Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People today and for the future’.
“This donation is more than a contribution of medical equipment, it is an investment in health, dignity and survival of women and newborns, calibrated drapes are important tools in improving early detection and accurate measurements of postpartum blood loss, enabling timely clinical interventions and strengthening the management of postpartum haemorrhage which remains one of the leading courses in maternal mortality in our country,” Minister Nts’ekhe noted.
She further pleaded with health officials to always ensure that they render high quality services, adding she is a nurse by profession and understands their hard working conditions, but that should not let them illtreat patients, like one officer who shouted at her not knowing who she was, and informed Dr. Matlanyane about the shortage of doctors in hospitals, not only at Nts’ekhe.
On the other hand, the District Medical Officer Dr. Bokang Kojana pointed out that there is an escalating rate of teenage pregnancy as 1 out of 5 girls get pregnant which contributes to high stress levels amongst the youth, leading to their dreams and aspirations going up in smoke.
Dr. Kojana highlighted that Lesotho is rated first in maternal mortality of which the higher number is young girls, however pointed out the hospital has established an Adolescent Corner Centre where youth is being taught about the Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, and the use of contraception.
Dr. Kojana further revealed that within the six months of 2026, the district has experienced 244 new HIV infections of which 85 is the youth, adding that this is a call for concern, especially when Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been introduced as an effective vaccine taken before potential exposure to prevent HIV infection, however pleaded with parents and chiefs to support youth, and urged adolescents to approach health facilities and take ownership in their issues as it is not only the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure that they have a brighter future.
Furthermore, UNFPA Country Representative Kennedy John Mosoti revealed that Lesotho’s maternal health investment outlines a $173,3 million blueprint to eliminate preventable deaths and lower severe maternal mortality ratio of 530 per 100,000 live births.
He indicated that by bridging the funding gap, the country will prevent over 344,000 unplanned pregnancies, address the 21% unmet family planning need among adolescent girls, and save 15,900 lives by 2030, through upgraded emergency networks and stronger clinical oversight.
“Many young people in the district are facing challenges like teenage pregnancy which still remains high at 15.2% contributing to school dropout among girls, access to adolescent friendly health services remains uneven particularly in rural areas like Ketane, Phamong, Qabane and Mpharane,” Mosoti highlighted.
“Let me re-affirm UNFPA’s unwavering commitment to the people of His Majesty’s Government as a trusted partner in ensuring that every woman, every mother and a newborn has a chance not only to survive but to thrive,” he noted.
Mosoti re-iterated, and concluded by assuring the youth that their voice, choices and future matter.
The World Population Day is an event commemorated annually on July 10 and this year’s theme is ‘Realizing the hopes and aspirations of the young people today and for the future’, it was graced by the presence of the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health ‘Malits’oanelo Monyobi, Nts’ekhe Government Hospital Superintendent, Dr. Henri Mahadimby, the member of parliament for Mpharane No: 60 and other senior government officials.
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