Boost for reproductive health
Limpho Sello
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) yesterday donated five computers to the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) in conjunction with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).
The computers are meant to help the association in its data-capture and analysis of information on sexual and reproductive health.
In her keynote address during the handover ceremony held at the LPPA offices in Maseru, UNFPA Representative to Lesotho, Therese Zeba said the donation was part of a joint UNFPA and UNAIDS programme funded by the European Union (EU) and Swedish government. Ms Zeba added the initiative covered seven southern African countries and sought to strengthen linkages between Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV policies, programmes and services for the period 2011 to 2015 at a cost of $15million.
Ms Zeba further noted in Lesotho, the programme addressed two of the biggest challenges facing the country, namely SRHR and HIV.
“The computers and technical support will increase the capacity of the LPPA to analyze the linkages programme’s information and data and therefore track results and evidence of its performance,” Ms Zeba said.
“I would like to congratulate the LPPA for its efforts and progress in the implementation of the linkages project. May these computers contribute to improved performance of the programme.”
In his vote-of-thanks, LPPA Chief Executive Officer, Mofokeng Makhetha, expressed gratitude for the equipment, which he said would help the LPPA achieve its desired results.
“With the kind of equipment given to us today, we are going to perform even better because we have done pretty well in the past,” Mr Makhetha said.
“Our members of staff must take advantage and ensure they learn how to capture and analyze data though these computers since the expert who has been brought in to assist us will not be here for ever.”
