If recommendations to the US government made by the Rapid Appraisal team are acted upon, palliative care in Lesotho could begin to develop using already existing community groups and linking closely with HIV/AIDS programmes. The US government is urged to consider supporting the following recommendations in the report:¹⁹

Short term

…In collaboration with the US Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) and the African Palliative Care Association ( APCA), conduct a palliative care assessment as a first step in mobilizing the national response for palliative care. It is recommended that the team be comprised of local stakeholders including People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and traditional healers.

…Provide technical assistance to form a National Palliative Care Association.

Medium and long term

…Provide technical assistance in the following key areas:

• Inclusion of palliative care in the soon-to-be-revised National AIDS Strategic Plan;
• Development of national palliative care policy, guidelines, standards and protocols including palliative care for children;
• Development of a national M&E system for palliative care; and
• Inclusion of pain and symptom management and other critical elements of palliative care in HCBC assessments.

…Provide technical and programmatic assistance for:

• Pre- and in-service training of health professionals and training of community-based health workers
• Non Governmental Organisations, Community Based Organisations and Faith Based Organisations including those working in HCBC to increase their palliative care skills and program coverage.
  

…Provide support to strengthen and advocate for community-level palliative care for the spectrum of the population from infants to the elderly (using a family-centred approach). Some of this support can include the adaptation of the up-coming southern Africa Palliative Care Training Guide for Children Living with HIV and other Life-Threatening Illnesses.