THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO COMBINED SECOND TO EIGHTH PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS AND INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA  National Family Planning Guidelines 2012: The guidelines guarantee women and adolescents’ right of access to contraceptive or family planning methods of their choice.  Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) Strategic Plan 2010-2014: The Plan outlines activities that LPPA had planned to undertake, in partnership with the Ministry of health with a view to increasing knowledge on contraceptive information and services to women and adolescents.  National Reproductive Health Policy 2009: The policy addresses sexual health, family planning, safe motherhood (including post abortion care) and HIV & AIDS. It also advocates for equal access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning for both men and women, and calls for their involvement in promotion of sexual and reproductive health.  During the financial year 2015/2016, the Ministry of Health launched a retention programme for nurses and midwives working in remote areas of the country. The government has also continued to train more medical doctors, with a third cohort of students having been sent to Zimbabwe beginning of 2015 and approximately thirtynine nurses sent for advanced midwifery training to address maternal mortality. Challenges High Maternal Mortality 451. The main challenge with regard to women’s health is that Lesotho has high maternal mortality of 1,024 deaths per 100,000 live births (2014), just slightly lower than 1,155 in 2009. This is because important health care services during pregnancy and childbirth and after delivery are still limited for the poor, especially those living in rural areas. Delivery in health facilities stands at only 77% in 2014 (an increase from 59% in 2009). Home deliveries are still common in rural areas and among less educated and poor women. Only 155