HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and the Tebellong hospital  

Treading the Forgotten Sky is raising money for the HIV/AIDS ward at the Tebellong hospital, which is located remotely in South-eastern Lesotho. ALL funds raised and donated will go directly to the Tebellong hospital. If we are able to raise over $10,000, then our contribution will be used to buy a new generator, which will power the hospital when solar power is not available. If this target is not reached, the donation will be used to buy much needed medical equipment and supplies for their HIV/AIDS ward.

The Tebellong hospital is responsible for providing health services to about 52,000 persons, as defined by the government. It has many poor people, few development projects, no paved roads, many health problems, and a very high infant mortality rate. This isolated hospital can only be reached by small plane, by row boat across the Orange (Senqu) River, by horseback or by foot.

Tebellong Hospital has an inpatient capacity of 50 beds, admitting over 1,000 patients per year, and maintaining an occupancy rate of 95%. As a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which Lesotho has been struck with, most beds are occupied by HIV/AIDS patients, and the hospital is struggling to cope with the influx.

HIV was first detected in Lesotho in 1986. Since then, Lesotho and its neighbours have experienced a dramatic escalation in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Having risen from nearly 4 percent prevalence in 1993 to 25 percent in 1999, Lesotho is also believed to have one of the highest infection rates in the world. Lesotho now has the fourth-highest rate of HIV prevalence in the world, with a 2003 estimate of 29 percent of persons aged 15-49 being HIV positive. At the end of 2003 an estimated 29,000 people had died from AIDS and at least 100,000 children had lost one or both parents to the disease.  

Having spent 3 of her childhood years at the Tebellong hospital with her family, Theresa feels a strong urge to help the community which she once called her own. Moving to a relatively prosperous country such as Australia, which is often hidden from the troubles of the world, Theresa feels it is important that we utilise our position to help others in need.  We as individuals have the power to get out there and be proactive about life and helping others, wether it be in our own community or around the globe.  

Motivating our youth:

Another aspect of Theresa’s expedition is to help young people realise that they, as individuals, are able to achieve as much as they put their minds to. She hopes to inspire young people to get out there and pursue whatever it is they feel passionate about. Having gone through tough teenage years herself, Theresa can relate to the importance of having good influences in those early years. She hopes to spread recognition of her efforts as an individual in taking the HIV/AIDS situation into her own hands. She will be presenting her story to high schools and youth groups both before and after the expedition. 

Beyond the expedition:

Theresa sees her expedition as a starting point to bigger things. She hopes that the documentary, which she is being sponsored to produce along her journey, will lead to an increased awareness for both Africa and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. And hopes it will motivate others to either assist in her cause or to create their own projects.