LESOTHO CATEGORY 2: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION A request for the following information was sent to Ministry of Health: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, what has been its impact on: ¾ The ministry’s daily or basic functions? ¾ The information dissemination? ¾ Have there been any reported cases amongst members of staff or their close contacts? ¾ To what extent could you say that the ministry’s strategies and plans are responsive to the public’s access to information needs? ¾ Do you have a public response/feedback platform through which to assess the public’s views about the Ministry of Health? ¾ Do you have active cyberspace platforms – website, social media (such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram), for people to access information about your services? If so, how effective are they? If not, why? ¾ Do you have a sense of, or idea as to whether, the public is satisfied by the service received from LRA? ¾ On a scale of 1-10, how efficient is the Ministry of Health in serving the public? y n = 20 Yes No Partial X 1. Is there an official, who is designated to take and respond to information requests? 2. Did the organisation reply within 21 days? 3. Did the organisation respond to the request for information? 4. Does the organisation publish their procedures for handling information requests? X 5. Did the organisation provide all of the requested information? X 6. Did the organisation provide written reasons for the refusal of information? 7. Did the organisation disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure, etc. X 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? X 9. Did the organisation acknowledge the request for information within 7 days? X Additional information Chief Information Officer X X 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? X The information officer was out of office until August 2020. X Total score: 5/20 RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE 53