| Specially trained volunteers in those areas are working to reach 2,000 people living with HIV, providing care and support to them and their households. Lesotho Red Cross also provides care and support to 5,402 orphans and vulnerable children.
The British Red Cross is committed to supporting the Lesotho programme for four years (2005-2009). From 2008 the programme will be further extended to include more work on increasing access to food.
Awareness campaigns
Teams of specialist facilitators and volunteers deliver structured health education workshops on HIV and AIDS, TB, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence issues, and other related health issues in community settings and clients’ homes.
Youth peer education
Peer educators (aged 18-25) are recruited and trained to promote life skills and positive living to other young people in their communities and schools, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS.
Condom distribution
Condoms – including female condoms – are distributed and people are trained on their use.
Care and support for people living with HIV
There are 90 volunteer caregivers who visit 2,000 chronically ill clients (i.e. home-bound or bed-ridden clients) each week. They provide a wide range of assistance, including bringing food parcels, providing basic nursing care, giving advice on access to anti-retroviral treatment, nutrition and establishing food gardens, and referring clients to auxiliary social workers for psychosocial counselling. During these visits families and primary caregivers are empowered to manage the work themselves so each volunteer caregiver is able to visit three or four clients a day.
Support to caregivers
Primary caregivers are given training focusing on the provision of effective care and support for family members with HIV and AIDS.
Support groups
Support groups are established for people living with HIV and caregivers as an important way of receiving psychosocial support from other community members, as well as for knowledge sharing and encouraging the creation of community food gardens.
Income generation
New initiatives have been started in communities to provide jobs and income for people living with HIV.
Work with orphans and vulnerable children
Orphans and other vulnerable children receive a wide range of practical assistance, including food, home visits, education support (e.g. uniforms and school materials) and support groups.
Support access to testing and treatment
We are increasing promotion of and support in accessing anti-retroviral treatment and HIV testing, as well as promoting mother-to-child transmission prevention programmes.
Anti-stigma and discrimination
We advocate and champion the rights of people living with HIV, orphans and other vulnerable children, helping them to access the support they need.
Read about people living with HIV | 
