History of Health Links between Wales and Lesotho

The development of the unique country-to-country `twinning` between Wales and Lesotho commenced in 1985. A charitable organisation, Dolen Cymru - Wales Lesotho Link - was established to implement the relationship. Twenty two years on, there have been many examples of health-related links between the two countries. Some of these, implemented formally in the name of Dolen Cymru, are outlined below.

  1. March 1985. Inaugural ceremony in the Welsh Office, attended by the Chief Medical Officer. Letter of support for the initiative from the WHO
  2. February 1987. Visit by Dr.Carl Clowes as Chair of Dolen Cymru. Initial assessment of needs
  3. Autumn 1987. Collection of surplus medical equipment from community hospitals and health centres throughout Wales begins.
  4. May 1988. Visit by Dr. S.T. Makenete, Lesotho Minister of Health ( SHO in Swansea) to review equipment, prior to despatch by container in June that year
  5. October 1988. Involvement of Cymdeithas Feddygol (Welsh Medical Association) gains pace. Visit by Secretary and Treasurer to Lesotho. Society advised of needs and potential for future links
  6. December 1989. Visit to Wales by Lesotho Minister of Health. Meeting with John Wyn Owen, Director NHS Cymru/Wales and Dolen`s Chair to discuss health service management needs in Lesotho.
  7. June 1990. Announcement of contract worth £0.5m to Mid Glamorgan Health Authority to advise on management structures in QEII hospital, Maseru. Contract lasted for a six-month period with exchanges of personnel
  8. August 1990. Health Minister Abel Thoalane visits Mid Glamorgan.
  9. July 1991. First `elective` medical students spend time with Dr.Hurlow in Lesotho
  10. April 1994. Visit to Powys NHS Trust by Dr. Raditapole, Minister of Health; accompanied by Principal Secretary and the Chief Nursing Officer. The `extended` community hospital model in Powys had a particular attraction for the Minister. Lengthy discussions led to the proposal of linking individual service areas, commencing with mental health
  11. August 1994. Dr. Heather Snidle leads the first of 9 annual workshops on HIV/AIDS in cooperation with the churches in Lesotho
  12. March 1995. Dr. Carl Clowes invited by the Ministry of Health to Lesotho. An assessment of public health needs in Semonkong district was carried out.
  13. June 1995. A further four medical students spend their `elective` periods in Lesotho
  14. August 1996. Psychologist spends three-months in Lesotho working alongside local mental health workers and developing a training programme
  15. January 1997. Staff Grade Psychiatrist spends six weeks in Lesotho further developing training and supporting clinical work in the country
  16. May 1997. International Grant of £250k awarded by the NLCB (Lottery) to develop health and education project over three years. Project Director appointed
  17. May 1998. `M`e Possa and `M`e Lepotha study visit to many settings in Wales to prepare for mental health workshop in Lesotho in support of three-year programme. Key Welsh personnel identified for workshops
  18. July 1998. Community mental health workshops held in Lesotho with Health Promotion specialist from Powys acting as Consultant. Work in four pilot areas - two highland and two lowland
  19. December 1999. Evaluation visit by Medical Director and Deputy from Powys Healthcare NHS Trust
  20. April 2000. `M`e Lebaka in Wales in preparation for `counselling` workshop
  21. August 2000. Consultant on trans-cultural transfer of skills and a counsellor visit Lesotho to hold a series of inter-active training workshops on counselling
  22. March 2001. A team of five from MENCAP Cymru visit Lesotho to develop links with the Lesotho Society for Mentally Handicapped People
  23. January 2002. Two Welsh doctors visit Lesotho to carry out a thorough health needs assessment.
  24. June 2002. Reciprocal visit by team of three from Lesotho Society for Mentally Handicapped People. Visit to a variety of clinical and other situations
  25. July 2002. Two more medical students on `electives` in Lesotho
  26. December 2002. Famine hits Lesotho. An appeal in Wales raises 125,000 Maloti. Presented by Dolen`s President to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on a visit to Lesotho
  27. February 2003. Nurse from Ysbyty Gwynedd spends three months in the Qacha`s Nek district of Lesotho working and training with Basotho health staff
  28. October 2003. A visit by 12 health `volunteers` from Wales. Short-term work and training in various locations. Dental assessment carried out on levels of fluorosis. Also some follow-up work on earlier mental health programme
  29. April 2004. Dental equipment, donated by the Dental Hospital to Lesotho
  30. June 2004. Dr.Hurlow, host for medical `electives` thus far, invited for training programme in Merthyr for two weeks
  31. October 2004. GUM Consultant and two Public Health Consultants visit Lesotho to establish an HIV/AIDS project in support of Government strategy. Liaison with UNAIDS and other international and local agencies gives basis for project subsequently approved in principle by the Ministry. Programme focuses on advocacy, counselling and testing and will work closely with Lesotho Red Cross.
  32. May 2005. Discussions with Dr. Brian Gibbons, Minister in relation to developing a Health Professionals Placement Programme in Lesotho. It was proposed that this should adopt the same model as for `education` with exchanges and secondments to Lesotho becoming a routine experience
  33. July 2005. Two medical students on `electives` to Maluti Hospital near TY
  34. October 2005. Dr. Hurlow from Maluti visits Wales again for training sessions with Prof. Mansel
  35. October 2005. Preparatory work on Income Generation Programme for those affected by HIV/AIDS
  36. July 2006. Visit by team from Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust to QEII Hospital. HIV/AIDS Paediatric Surveillance Unit established and areas of further work - training programme and research requirements - identified
  37. August 2006. Medical student `electives` to Maluti Hospital
  38. February 2007. Radiographer support for St. James Mission Hospital in Mantsonyane. Medical Superintendent in hospital from Llandough
  39. A recently retired GP, spends 4 months in Lesotho highlands
  40. Second reciprocal visit by Mencap Cymru hosted by Lesotho Society for Mentally Handicapped People
  41. April 2007. Visit by Lesotho Consul in Wales and former General Manager in NHS to establish `permanent` health presence in Lesotho, further work between QEII and Cardiff and establish twinning between Quthing and NHS personnel in Wales. Initial funding from Welsh Assembly Government - seen as response to earlier discussions (see 32. above). Presence and funding creates an opportunity to action HIV work in Quthing (see 31 above).
  42. Welsh Paediatric Society agree to fund a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner in Lesotho for 5 years
  43. January 2008, first skill share health professional, Bernadette O'Hare goes to Lesotho to work for 8 months in the QEII