Limpho Sello
THE government of Lesotho, in conjunction with child welfare organisations, is set to host a four-day conference to find ways to assist vulnerable children at a local hotel in Maseru next month.
Minister of Social Development, ‘Matebatso Doti, revealed at a press conference yesterday that government, with the assistance of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with its Management Sciences for Health (MSH) programme, and in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will host the conference in which examining the strategies employed in supporting vulnerable children.
The conference, which will be held from 8-11 December, will draw participants from various Southern African Development Community countries (SADC).
Ms Doti added that the conference will also seek to discover some of the modern approaches in assisting vulnerable children and bringing about positive changes in their lives.
“With this conference, Lesotho is going to learn from people from the other Southern African Development Community countries on how they are tackling such issues as the vulnerability of children in their countries,” Ms Doti said.
“And from the conference, Lesotho will be able to learn from those countries that are doing well in terms of caring for vulnerable children.”
Ms Doti said the strategies worthy of emulation would be incorporated the government’s strategic framework for implementation.
“By organising the conference, government is showing its commitment to improving the plight of children and their needs as well as their safety within the country and abroad.”
Mrs Doti said: “at this conference Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso will be given an honour of becoming the patron of vulnerable children in the country according to the good work she has done and that she is continuing to do in helping vulnerable children.”
