Elizabeth Nkholongo

Lesotho-Boston Health Alliance

The Lesotho-Boston Health Alliance (LeBoHA) was created as a partnership between Boston University and the Lesotho Ministry of Health in 2001. In recognition of the severe health challenges facing Lesotho, including the second highest TB and HIV/AIDS rates globally, the Government of Lesotho, in particular the Ministry of Health, asked LeBoHA to help boost the human resources for health capacity within the country. As such, LeBoHA strives to capacitate the country's health care providers in thought leadership, and continuing professional education and training, in order to support Lesotho's health care system. Currently LeBoHA's main pillars of work include: the Family Medicine Specialty Training Program (FMSTP) and the Internship Program. The Internship focuses on providing valuable training to Lesotho's Intern doctors. The two year program provides the Interns the opportunity to continue to hone their medical skills, expand their medical knowledge, and prepares them for their work as Medical Officers or Specialists. The FMSTP was started in 2008 and is the country's first and only medical specialty training program. There are 11 physicians enrolled as registrars throughout the districts of Lesotho.