Lets’eng brings hope to Mapholaneng Health Centre

MOSA MAOENG
MOKHOTLONG – Lets’eng Diamonds has donated a park home to the Mapholaneng Health Centre to provide a safe and comfortable waiting facility for expectant mothers. The donation, made on Wednesday last week, aims to strengthen the health centre’s capacity and ensure that women have access to safe and dignified maternal care closer to their homes. 

This initiative was made possible through the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lesotho, which brought partners together to improve maternal health. Vodacom Lesotho, one of the partners, also donated beds for the facility.  Mapholaneng Health Centre Nursing Officer Realeboha Tlhabi emphasized the need for the government to view the health centre differently, as it serves a large number of people from surrounding villages. He stated that the facility should be elevated to the level of a filter clinic.  

“Every woman’s expectation when they come to the centre is to give birth to a healthy child while ensuring their own health. We need the Ministry of Health to intervene regarding staff and infrastructure,” he said. 

UNFPA National Programme Analyst for Adolescents and Young People, ‘Maseretse Ratia, mentioned that the concept began in 2025 when UNFPA, in collaboration with partners including Vodacom Lesotho, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), and the Red Cross, conducted fact-finding missions related to young people, particularly issues surrounding early and unintended pregnancies and sexual offences. 

“We started in Mokhotlong and later came to Mapholaneng at the Adolescent Corner. We recognized the need for internet connectivity to assist with research. The main issue was the Mothers Waiting Home at the centre, where about six pregnant women previously shared a facility that could only accommodate two,” she explained. 

Ratia noted that the necessity for a larger waiting facility became evident, which led to Lets’eng Diamonds handing over the park home, with beds donated by Vodacom Lesotho to accommodate four mothers. This initiative aims to ensure safe births for mothers, particularly adolescent young mothers.  Mokhotlong District Medical Officer Dr. ‘Mamohoanyane Chabana reported that, according to this year’s records, the facility serves approximately 15,724 people from 72 villages and has 39 health workers.

Last year, the facility assisted about 351 pregnant women, with only 160 delivering safely at the clinic, while 18 delivered at home.  

Chabana added that due to space limitations at the mothers’ waiting home, the facility was unable to accommodate all pregnant women.

“Despite this, no pregnant woman or child has lost their life. We are grateful for our nurses’ dedication,” she stated.  She explained that the donated waiting home is an essential part of the health centre’s work, especially for pregnant women who travel long distances to seek assistance. According to Chabana, women will no longer have to walk long distances back home, as they can stay at the waiting home.  

“They will receive the medical assistance and monitoring needed at 38 weeks while preparing to give birth at 40 weeks. However, it is still insufficient if we can only accommodate four mothers. We hope that future initiatives will expand upon this,” she concluded. 

Representing Lets’eng Diamonds, Sefefo Tiela underscored the mine’s commitment to giving back to the community through its Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Programme. He shared that the mine focuses on five thematic areas, including education, infrastructure development, and health. 

“In these areas, the mine builds classrooms for schools and more,” he stated. Tiela expressed his gratitude for the successful delivery of the park home to the clinic, expressing hope that it would serve its intended purpose.  “We often donate equipment that ends up unused. Let today mark a change, and we are hopeful that this facility will play the role it is intended for,” he said.

Social Development Minister Pitso Lesaoana highlighted Prime Minister Matekane’s encouragement for ministries to collaborate and find solutions to ongoing challenges. He stressed the importance of working together with the private sector and development partners.  Lesaoana recounted their first visit to the clinic, noting the urgent need for action.

“It is concerning to find 12-14-year-olds waiting to deliver. We need to collaborate to stop early and unintended pregnancies, often resulting from sexual offences against young girls,” he said.  

The Minister emphasized the need for the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) to ensure that perpetrators are arrested, as well as the roles of Chiefs and Councillors in addressing these issues.

“There is no justification for how a 12-year-old girl can become pregnant; this is a sexual offense,” he stated.

The Minister said the LMPS and social workers need to together.