Lesotho HIV Positive Turn to Traditional Medicine
Lesotho‘s HIV Patients Turn to Traditional Healers as Aid Cuts Bite
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MASERU, Lesotho (AP) — In a small, corrugated iron shack on the outskirts of Maseru, Lesotho’s capital, Lieketseng Lucia Tjatji sits beneath a black cloth adorned with a lion’s head. To her side are an array of dried roots, powders, and herbs, which she now offers to patients living with HIV.
Following the reduction in aid, initially decreed in February, people living with HIV are increasingly seeking out the 34-year-old traditional healer, hoping to find an effective alternative treatment.
“I have helped people,” Tjatji says, noting that “more and more” are arriving at her door.
Lesotho, a small, mountainous kingdom landlocked within South Africa with a population of 2.3 million, has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates globally. According to the Ministry of Health, approximately one in four adults is HIV-positive.
Tjatji, who also works as a fashion designer, is herself HIV-positive.She has been taking government-supplied antiretrovirals as 2003. However, due to budget cuts in growth aid, renewals are now limited to three-month supplies, leaving her uncertain about future access.
“I don’t want to die,” she said.
Holistic Health Approach
Traditional healers, known as Sangomas, are widely respected in southern Africa for their healing abilities and spiritual guidance.
Historically, some sangomas viewed HIV as a curse from the spirit world, believing patients were bewitched. Some even claimed to offer cures for AIDS.
Newer practitioners, like Tjatji, undergo extensive initiation and training before being authorized to administer remedies passed down through generations.
MPHO Roberta Masondo, director of the National Association of African healers based in neighboring South Africa, emphasizes the importance of traditional medicine in “the holistic health and well-being of the community.”
However, Masondo, who is also a traditional healer, stresses that it “does not replace antiretroviral therapy, which remains the most effective way to suppress HIV.”
Risk of Program Collapse
Lesotho has been a significant recipient of American aid in recent years. Health is the primary sector supported,with $120 million allocated in 2024,including $43.5 million for HIV/AIDS programs.
Since 2016, Lesotho has received over $850 million from washington to combat HIV, primarily through the PEPFAR program.
Earlier this year, the potential abolition of American aid programs abroad was raised, citing lesotho as an example of countries “no one has ever heard of.”
In February, approximately 30 NGOs warned that without U.S. funding, HIV programs in Lesotho are at risk of collapse.
Nearly half of the programs funded by PEPFAR have been interrupted, including HIV prevention initiatives using PrEP medications and male circumcision. Lesotho, facing financial constraints, struggles to fill these gaps.
“Ineffective Treatment” Concerns
Experts fear that the increased reliance on alternative remedies could undermine progress made in Lesotho’s HIV response. The nation had previously achieved the United Nations’ “90-90-90” target: 90% of people with the virus are diagnosed, 90% of those diagnosed are undergoing treatment, and 90% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
“I am very worried,” said Jessica Justman, technical director at ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University in New York.
“Using ineffective treatment is equivalent to not taking treatment at all,” Justman added, noting that it exposes people living with HIV to opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, meningitis, and pneumonia.
Masondo maintains that traditional methods can offer relief.
“Traditional healing is not limited to herbs; it is indeed a holistic approach that strengthens the body, mind, and consciousness,” she said. “The ultimate danger is not traditional healing itself, it is disinformation.”
Back in her consultation shack, Tjatji expresses concern that alternative medicines may not be effective, particularly for those accustomed to regular antiretroviral treatment.
She hopes that perhaps Lesotho “will produce the pills for us.”
Lesotho’s HIV Crisis: Seeking Answers Amidst Aid Cuts
This article explores the challenges faced by people living with HIV in Lesotho,a nation grappling with the impact of reduced foreign aid. we’ll examine the rise of traditional healing practices,the concerns surrounding treatment access,and the potential consequences for public health. The information presented here comes directly from the provided source material and aims to deliver clear, factual insights.
Q: What is the current situation regarding HIV in Lesotho?
A: Lesotho has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates globally. According to the Ministry of Health, approximately one in four adults in Lesotho are HIV-positive. This means a significant portion of the population is living with the virus.
Q: Why are HIV patients in Lesotho turning to traditional healers?
A: The reduction in foreign aid has created uncertainty about the availability of antiretroviral treatments.Consequently, people living with HIV are increasingly seeking option treatments from traditional healers (“Sangomas”) like Lieketseng Lucia Tjatji, hoping to find effective solutions..
Q: Who is Lieketseng Lucia Tjatji, and what is her role?
A: Lieketseng Lucia Tjatji is a 34-year-old traditional healer and fashion designer based in Lesotho. She provides traditional remedies,including dried roots,powders,and herbs,to patients living with HIV. She is also HIV-positive and has been using government-supplied antiretrovirals since 2003.
Q: What is the meaning of traditional healers (“sangomas”) in Lesotho?
A: Traditional healers, known as Sangomas, are widely respected in southern Africa for thier healing abilities and spiritual guidance. They play a crucial role in the holistic health and well-being of the community.
Q: what is the official stance on traditional medicine for HIV treatment?
A: Mpho Roberta Masondo, director of the National Association of African healers, emphasizes that while traditional medicine can offer relief and support, it dose not replace antiretroviral therapy, which remains the most effective way to suppress HIV.
Q: What is the impact of reduced aid on HIV programs in Lesotho?
A: Lesotho has been a significant recipient of American aid for HIV/AIDS programs. Budget cuts in growth aid have led to limitations in the supply of antiretrovirals, which provides three-month supplies, leaving patients uncertain for future access. Nearly half of the programs funded by PEPFAR have been interrupted, including HIV prevention initiatives using PrEP medications and male circumcision.. experts fear that the reduced access to treatment could undermine the progress made in Lesotho’s HIV response.
Q: What are the concerns about relying on alternative remedies for HIV?
A: Experts are concerned that relying solely on alternative remedies could undermine the progress already made in Lesotho’s HIV response. Using ineffective treatment is equivalent to not taking treatment at all, which increases the risk of opportunistic infections like tuberculosis, meningitis, and pneumonia.
Q: What was Lesotho’s previous success in the HIV response?
A: Before aid cuts, Lesotho had previously achieved the United Nations’ “90-90-90” target: 90% of people with the virus diagnosed, 90% of those diagnosed undergoing treatment, and 90% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression.
Q: What is the future outlook for HIV patients in Lesotho?
A: There is uncertainty about the future. Lieketseng Lucia Tjatji hopes that perhaps Lesotho “will produce the pills for us.”