mothers2mothers

Context

In Africa, every day 1000 children are born with HIV, opposed to only one child in Europe and the US respectively. In parts of Africa, up to 75% of babies born to HIV+ mothers stand to lose their mothers to AIDS-related illnesses. Lack of knowledge about HIV/Aids and fear of stigma prevent mothers living with HIV/Aids from searching the right kind of support to prevent transmission and learning to live with HIV/AIDS.
 

Solution

• Mothers2mothers (m2m) hires HIV+ mothers to educate and support new HIV+ mothers to learn how to live with HIV/AIDS
• Education and empowerment tools prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS during and after pregnancy, combat stigma within families and communities, support a mother’s adherence to medical treatment, and reduce the likelihood of AIDS orphans
• m2m’s enhanced program model (EPM) provides reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health (RMNCH) to HIV+ and HIV- women and their families to improve overall health
• Since 2012, m2m has decreased the number of sites it is directly working at and has focused more on capacity building for governments to include the mentor mother model into their health facilities
• m2m‘s “exit strategy“ is for local host governments to take over the treatment of mothers

Impact depth

35% more new born in Africa will live an AIDS free life through m2m’s initiative which aims to eliminate pediatric AIDS and keep mothers alive.

m2m works to

• Improve health of HIV affected families: More babies are born healthy through reducing the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies from 40% to below 5%; HIV+ mothers learn to live with HIV and are kept healthy by increasing their access to health-sustaining medical care; affected families benefit from an improved overall health through the extended scope of m2m’s support
• Reduce stigmatization: HIV+ women and their children are empowered to live in dignity through m2m’s support to disclose their status to their family and community
• Improve income generation and upskilling: Mentor mothers are employed for up to 24 months, receive professional training and earn USD 180pm. This experience increases their employability for future jobs

By investing in m2m, we align with and contribute to six of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.