The Starlight Oasis of Hope Cancer Hospice has received a major boost after the Standard Lesotho Bank Corporate Golf Day raised a record M1.4 million last Friday, funds that will finance the long-awaited second phase of the facility.
The hospice, founded by Tebello ‘Malichaba Lepheane, is emerging as one of Lesotho’s most important palliative-care initiatives at a time when cancer continues to devastate families across the country.
According to GLOBOCAN 2022, Lesotho recorded 2,027 new cancer cases and 1,411 deaths in a single year. Cervical cancer remains the leading cancer among women, with 541 new cases annually and 362 deaths, while breast and prostate cancers also dominate diagnoses.
Many of these cases are detected late, and this reduces the chances of successful treatment.
Against this backdrop, the M1.4 million injection represents not just money, but access to care that thousands desperately need.
Phase II of the hospice, now under construction, will house a fully equipped in-patient unit, one of the most urgent needs identified by families and caregivers.
The unit will allow patients who are too ill to remain at home to receive round-the-clock care, while giving exhausted caregivers a temporary reprieve. “Sometimes caregivers just need a break,” Lepheane said. “They may need to attend a funeral, a graduation, or simply rest, but they cannot leave someone who is gravely ill. Our in-patient unit will give families that peace of mind.”
Once complete, the centre will offer medical reviews, counselling, pain management, wound care, and home visits for patients unable to travel. It will also support families through structured conferences designed to prepare them emotionally and practically for the challenges of caring for someone with cancer.
The success of the SLB Corporate Golf Day marks the third consecutive year that the bank and its partners have backed the hospice’s mission. Engineers have offered their services for free, while construction teams have agreed to work at cost, stretching every loti raised.
“It is incredibly humbling,” Lepheane said. “This support shows that we don’t have to wait for the government alone. As a community, we can lead the change.”
The hospice has a long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health, which is being updated to include support for staffing and sustainability. Discussions with the Ministry of Social Development are also underway as part of a broader push to protect families from the economic hardships that often come with a cancer diagnosis.
Lepheane returned to Lesotho after witnessing the transformative power of holistic cancer care in the United Kingdom (UK). She founded Starlight Oasis of Hope to ensure patients here receive not just medical attention, but emotional, social, and spiritual support.
“Cancer can plunge families into poverty,” she said. “Often, the breadwinner is the patient. Without holistic support, the entire family suffers.”
Her team of nurses, counsellors, social workers, pharmacists, and volunteers aims to provide care rooted in dignity and compassion. The centre’s name reflects its mission: in the darkest times, even a small light can guide someone through.
With the construction of Phase II nearing completion, and boosted by the historic M1.4 million raised, the hospice hopes to open doors in January.
For families facing cancer’s harsh realities, that milestone represents more than a building. It is a promise that no one must suffer alone.
“Palliative care is a basic human right,” Lepheane said. “And we are committed to providing it with love, respect, and compassion.”
Summary
- The hospice, founded by Tebello ‘Malichaba Lepheane, is emerging as one of Lesotho’s most important palliative-care initiatives at a time when cancer continues to devastate families across the country.
- The hospice has a long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health, which is being updated to include support for staffing and sustainability.
- Discussions with the Ministry of Social Development are also underway as part of a broader push to protect families from the economic hardships that often come with a cancer diagnosis.
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