Zambia

Date Started:

2016

Locations as of Q2 2019 (incl. clinics and nearby communities):

New Clients Enrolled (2018):

14,180

Mentor Mothers (2018):

Country Representative:

Priscilla Banda

Our work in Zambia

mothers2mothers (m2m) is delivering services in Zambia as a member of the JSI-led consortium implementing the USAID SAFE: Supporting an AIDS-Free Era Program. m2m contributes to USAID SAFE’s objectives to increase HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression rates to 95%, surpassing UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, while also improving nutrition outcomes and family planning integration. Operating in two of Zambia’s ten provinces (Central and Copperbelt), m2m Mentor Mothers work in both health facilities and surrounding communities to ensure that families receive the health advice and medication they need and are supported on treatment.

In addition to our work under USAID SAFE, m2m previously partnered with a local organisation, the Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Management Programme (CHAMP) to deliver Mentor Mother services in Lusaka and Northwestern provinces. That project included

for the first time placing Mentor Mothers on mobile Primary Care Support Units (PCSUs) providing clinical and complementary support to rural clinics. By opening their doors directly into communities, the PCSUs brought high-impact healthcare and education to spaces that are familiar to clients and responded dynamically to the community’s evolving needs.

m2m has recently opened a model site—demonstrating the full extent of our integrated service platform—at Chipata clinic in Lusaka. m2m is also exploring additional opportunities to integrate early childhood development services into its site.

This is not m2m’s first implementation in Zambia. m2m’s first project in Zambia ran from 2008 through its successful completion of project objectives in 2012.

Our Reach in Zambia

Data as of 30 June 2019.

Success Story

Nidah Chisenga is a Mentor Mother at the Lubuto Clinic in Copper Belt Province of Zambia. She tested HIV-positive in 2016 after she had difficulty recovering from malaria, and has two HIV-negative daughters.

Working for mother2mothers is one of the best things that have ever happened to me. It has always been my prayer to have a chance to serve women in my community. The salary I earn enables me to help take care of my familyI am very proud that I am making such a big difference, not just in my home but in my community as well.

I work in a very busy clinic. Together with four other Mentor Mothers, we see about 60 pregnant women and new mothers each day, including about 15 who are living with HIV. One of the things I love most about being a Mentor Mother in Zambia is that we have been trained to do dry blood spot testing (DBS). DBS is a test where a blood sample is blotted and dried on filter paper. The dried samples are easily sent to the laboratory and tested for HIV. Being able to do the test has made things so much easier in my clinic. We do not miss testing any child exposed to HIV. The few nurses we have at the clinic can now do other work while the Mentor Mothers do the test and provide our clients with health. The results come back within five days and we have been very grateful that we have not had any child test HIV-positive in the first two months since we started doing the test.