Sustainability

Support in the early years from foundations (Kellogg, Izumi, Dreyfus) and global institutions (Global Fund, PEPFAR, USAID ASHA, IFC, EU) was used for start-up, but our plan was always to transition to local control and funding when possible. The FMSTP rapidly became institutionalized within the MOH budget when accreditation was granted. The MOH assumed the salaries of the four FMSTP faculty, 16 trainees, and a coordinator. In 2018, LeBoHA signed a contract with the MOH providing funding for postgraduate and internship educational expenses (e.g., visiting lecturers, local travel, white coats, stethoscopes, computers, projectors). The MOH provides LeBoHA with office and classroom space, and internet access at Motebang Hospital. Under the new Lesotho Qualifications Framework, LeBoHA is able to bestow the MMedFam degree. For ten years the day-to-day operation of LeBoHA is overseen by ‘Me Elizabeth Nkholongo. BU faculty served in-country during program establishment, and in 2013, Dr. Sabaka Malope, the first graduate of the FMSTP, joined the faculty assuming directorship in 2017. In 2020, we added a second graduate to faculty. Boston University faculty involvement is transitioning from directing the program – to a new emphasis on faculty development and mentoring local faculty in the areas of teaching, research and academics.

Expanding and Replicating Our Work

LeBoHA’s presentations at professional meetings and publications have resulted in other countries in the region expressing interest in our approach. Colleagues in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini have expressly asked about using the Lesotho experience to build human resource capacity through postgraduate training in their countries. To aid implementation and dissemination, LeBoHA developed a “toolkit” to be used to start similar programs in other locations. The toolkit contains recruitment materials, curriculum, programmatic policies, evaluation tools, teaching schedules, faculty job descriptions, lectures and teaching plans. We are pleased to share all of our documents widely.