In a significant boost to maternal healthcare in Lesotho, Lets’eng Diamonds has donated a park home to the Mapholaneng Health Centre. The donation, made on Wednesday last week, aims to provide a safe and comfortable waiting facility for expectant mothers. This initiative was made possible through the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lesotho, which brought partners together to improve maternal health. The park home will accommodate four mothers, addressing the previous shortage of space that forced pregnant women to share a small facility.
The Mapholaneng Health Centre serves a large population of approximately 15,724 people from 72 villages, with 39 health workers on staff. According to Mokhotlong District Medical Officer Dr. ‘Mamohoanyane Chabana, last year the facility assisted about 351 pregnant women, with only 160 delivering safely at the clinic, while 18 delivered at home. 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. Women will no longer have to walk long distances back home, as they can stay at the waiting home and receive medical assistance and monitoring.
The need for a larger waiting facility became evident after 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. UNFPA National Programme Analyst for Adolescents and Young People, ‘Maseretse Ratia, mentioned that the concept began in 2025 when they recognized the need for internet connectivity to assist with research and a larger waiting facility for pregnant women.
The 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. Tlhabi also highlighted the need for the Ministry of Health to intervene regarding staff and infrastructure, ensuring that women have access to safe and dignified maternal care closer to their homes.
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. Tiela expressed his gratitude for the successful delivery of the park home to the clinic, expressing hope that it would serve its intended purpose.
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 to address issues such as early and unintended pregnancies, often resulting from sexual offences against young girls. Lesaoana emphasized the need for the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) to ensure that perpetrators are arrested.
The initiative aims to ensure safe births for mothers, particularly adolescent young mothers. Vodacom Lesotho, one of the partners, also donated beds for the facility. Key stakeholders hope that this donation will mark a change and that the facility will play the role it is intended for, with future initiatives potentially expanding upon this effort to accommodate more mothers and improve maternal healthcare in Lesotho.
Key points
- Lets’eng Diamonds donates park home to improve maternal care at Mapholaneng Health Centre
- The facility serves approximately 15,724 people from 72 villages with 39 health workers on staff
- The initiative aims to ensure safe births for mothers, particularly adolescent young mothers
