Lesotho PHIT Partnership: A Proposal to Strengthen Health Systems and Support Primary Care and District Health Systems

The Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (LMOHSW) proposes a partnership with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH) and the Faculty of Health Sciences of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) to form the Lesotho Population Health Implementation and Training Partnership (LPHITP). The LPHITP will engage in an innovative initiative to strengthen health systems in two large adjoining districts in Lesotho, Mafeteng and Mohale's Hoek to achieve the following health related MDGs: reduce child mortality (MDG 4), improve maternal health (MDG 5) and combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases such as tuberculosis and diarrheal diseases (MDG 6). The partnership will build on MSPH's existing work in these districts to support the LMOHSW to develop and implement effective structures and frameworks to establish district health systems, strengthen primary health care, and to establish mechanisms to assess the impact of interventions on key health indicators directly relevant to key MDGs.