The CHIME (Community Health Interventions through Musical Engagement) project and the newly formed Lesotho Alliance for Maternal Mental Health (LAMMH) were officially launched on 19 September 2025 in Maseru. Hosted at Avani Maseru, the event marked an important milestone in advancing community-led, culturally grounded approaches to maternal mental health across the country.
CHIME Lesotho will explore how participatory, music-based practices can support mothers during pregnancy and after birth, with implementation planned in Thaba-Tseka, Berea, and Maseru districts. As part of building sustainable structures, the project supported the establishment of LAMMH—a multisectoral network uniting government, NGOs, academia, the private sector, and people with lived experience to promote the integration of maternal mental health into primary health care.
The launch brought together 85 participants from four government ministries, alongside civil society, international partners, academia, and media. The programme featured presentations from WHO, CHIME, and LAMMH, lived-experience testimonials, panel discussions, and creative performances including sound therapy, poetry, and dance.
Speakers highlighted the urgent need to strengthen maternal mental health services, decentralise care, build health worker capacity, and address stigma at community level. Representatives also underscored the importance of generating Lesotho-specific data and engaging men as partners in maternal mental health. The event closed with a strong sense of collaboration and momentum for the work ahead.
