Healthy People,

Healthy Land

Lesotho is a small landlocked country completely surrounded by its neighbor South Africa. It is a nation of mountains with the highest low point of any country in the world. Its greatest resources are water and diamonds and these along with mohair and some textiles are its only exports.

The people of Lesotho pronounced “lesootoo” are called Basotho and their language is Sesotho.

Basotho are a resourceful and enduring people but they face many challenges that are at the core of our Healthy Lesotho efforts.

More on Lesotho:

Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world.
The HIV-AIDs rate among adults is 23.2% the third highest.
Out of a population of slightly more than 2 million there are over 100,000 children who have lost one or both parents with many child headed households.
80% of Basotho people depend on subsistence agriculture.
Crop yields have declined 50% from what they were only a few decades ago.
Soil degradation and erosion has brought the percentage of arable land from 11% to 9% in that time.
Scientists have warned that if erosion continues at the present rate there will be essentially no land to plant by 2040.
Over 25% of Basotho depend on food aid.
Unemployment is over 50% with 40% of people living below the international poverty level with incomes of less than $2.15 per day.
Statistics from the World Bank

Please click on our Projects page to find out about current community Health and/or Agricultural activities we are involved with in Lesotho.

Bios:

Terry Ellard

Terry incubated Healthy Lesotho along with his wife Barbara while they were Peace Corps Volunteers 2011-2013. Terry has a BSc in agriculture, is a Journeyman metal patternmaker, a beekeeper of 50 odd years and a personal fitness trainer. He spent most of his career running his own businesses, inventing and building medical devices and such things as bicycle sidecars as well as appropriate technology such as baby scales and safety syringes. Terry leads the agricultural arm of Healthy Lesotho.

Barbara Meyer

Barbara Meyer MD MPH is a retired family doctor and Executive Director of the Healthy Lesotho non-profit organization. She worked collaboratively with staff at the Maluti Adventist Hospital from 2011 to 2013 as a quality improvement consultant and taught a research methods class at the School of Nursing. She has maintained a connection with colleagues at the hospital as a mentor and fundraiser.

Maluti Hospital achieves highest rating!!

In the midst of the turmoil with PEPFAR funds, the hospital had its periodic accreditation review. Despite the temporary layoff of 14 staff members in the HIV and TB clinics, they achieved the highest rating in Lesotho (of the hospitals undergoing assessment in this cycle). Four stars! It reinforces our desire to help them provide excellent care to the patients who live in the area, largely mountain villages.

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