Malawi
Our work in Malawi
m2m’s programme in Malawi is one of our largest, and encompasses a broad range of services. m2m is contributing to HIV epidemic control efforts by scaling-up a peer-based, integrated service delivery model targeted at priority populations (including pregnant women living with HIV, mother infant pairs, children, adolescents and men).
Since 2008, m2m Mentor Mothers have been working in health facilities, as well as going door-to-door in communities, linking women and families to nearby health facilities for medical care. The programme has since evolved to include Early Childhood Development and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child health services.
In another first, m2m Malawi began recruiting and employing men living with HIV in 2018 as Expert Clients, as part of our adapted peer support approach for special key populations living with HIV.
Currently, 270 male and female Expert Clients are working in 98 clinics to support others in their community to access health services in order to stay healthy, on treatment, to achieve viral suppression, and to reduce their partner’s risk of infection.
Stevenson H. Tsoyo, Group Village Headman, Chiswe, Malawi.
Our Impact in Malawi
Virtual elimination of mother-to- child transmission of HIV among m2m’s enrolled clients, according to UNAIDS guidelines:
98%
of HIV-positive women enrolled at m2m were initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for life.
86%
of HIV-exposed infants of enrolled m2m clients were given ART to protect them from infection.
91%
of these HIV-exposed infants were tested for HIV at 6-8 weeks.
6 – Our MTCT rate is comparable to the UNAIDS MTCT Indicator, as outlined in their guidelines available here: https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2017-Global-AIDS-Monitoring_en.pdf. National benchmark is based on the latest available UNAIDS data, published here: https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/20190722_UNAIDS_SFSFAF_2019_en.pdf
Success Story
Femia Mangani, a Community Mentor Mother in Bvumbwe, Malawi, was three months pregnant when she tested HIV-positive—she wasn’t even 20 years old.
When I was three months pregnant, I was visited by an m2m Mentor Mother. I told her I had not started antenatal care yet and she explained to me the benefits of going for an HIV test. I tested HIV-positive. I accepted my status with difficulties. The Mentor Mother explained some things to me and I started to feel free. I tested my son Blessings when he was six weeks old and he tested HIV-negative. Now he is just learning to stand. I applied for this job as a Mentor Mother because of what I went through. I tested positive before I was 20 years old so I saw that a lot of young people are going astray because they don’t have any guidance. Through my work, I help people in my community access the medical care they need, including adolescent girls and young mothers, HIV-positive and -exposed children, and other members of a family. Everything in my life has changed. My health has improved, even the way I think has changed. I see my future to be bright.
