Maseru, July 09 — The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a Multisectoral Male Engagement Initiative on Safe Initiation Practices and Health Promotion in Phamong, Mohale’s Hoek district, marking the beginning of a nationwide campaign to improve health and safety during the initiation season.
The initiative brings together the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development.
It also engages traditional leaders, initiators and local communities in promoting safer initiation practices across 11 Principal Chief areas.
The programme seeks to address preventable illnesses, injuries and deaths associated with initiation schools through health education, disease prevention and strengthened referral systems between initiation schools and health facilities.
Leading the discussions, the Ministry of Health’s Head of Health Promotion, Mr. Baroane Phenethi, emphasised the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights, healthy relationships and mental health among boys and young men attending initiation schools.
He encouraged participants to ensure that health promotion becomes an integral part of the initiation process while preserving the country’s cultural traditions.
Area chiefs who attended the launch pledged to increase community awareness on both communicable and non-communicable diseases. They also committed to working closely with initiators to ensure that prospective initiates undergo screening and testing for infectious diseases before entering initiation schools, in an effort to reduce health risks and prevent disease transmission.
Speaking during the event, Principal Chief of Phamong, Chief Theko Letsie Bereng, urged area chiefs to strengthen collaboration with health centres, police and other relevant authorities to safeguard the lives and wellbeing of initiates.
He stressed that protecting young men during initiation requires collective responsibility from traditional leaders, communities and government institutions.
The Ministry of Health says the engagement will continue in other districts over the coming days and weeks as government ministries, supported by WHO and other partners, expand the life-saving dialogue to communities across the country.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by WHO to support the Government of Lesotho in promoting community-driven and culturally grounded approaches that protect the health and wellbeing of Basotho while respecting traditional practices.
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