COVID-19

How mothers2mothers is tackling
the global pandemic.

As the African continent braces for a third wave of COVID-19, the more than one million women, children, and families we work with in ten sub-Saharan African countries need us more than ever. Many are vulnerable and marginalised, and at a disproportionate risk of contracting COVID-19. mothers2mothers (m2m) Mentor Mothers have been working tirelessly to turn the tide of COVID-19 across Africa. Our decades of experience of fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and close ties to the communities we serve, have made us uniquely placed to ensure access to lifesaving health education and services at this critical time.

In early 2020, we launched an emergency appeal to scale up our response, adapt our services, and protect our frontline team serving as “essential workers.” We have invested the funds raised to date in a range of areas, including providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our frontline staff, investing in our digital services, and providing additional training and support to our frontline team. We still require additional support to sustain and intensify this work. With your support, we will continue to meet the changing health needs of the women and families that rely on us.

COVID-19 & Africa

COVID-19 risks undoing years of vital and hard-earned progress in our bid to create health, hope, and an HIV-free future:

Africa’s health systems are critically understaffed and underresourced. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sub-Saharan Africa currently has a shortage of 4.2 million health workers. The continent is not equipped to handle a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV in the world. According to UNAIDS, over nine million people are not accessing effective treatment on our continent, leaving them likely at greater risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 because of their immunocompromised health status.

Other health conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, that can increase the risk of severe complications and death from COVID-19, are also widespread across the continent.

What is the novel coronavirus? (Courtesy WHO)

For more information, click here:

https://openwho.org/courses/introduction-to-ncov

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Operational Changes

m2m is resolutely maintaining and adapting our programmes and services during the COVID-19 pandemic without compromising the safety of our site staff (including Mentor Mothers, Peer Mentors, and Expert Clients) and clients. Many of our frontline staff have been designated as “essential workers” by governments during lockdowns, and are continuing to provide services at health centres.

To also continue providing the services that Mentor Mothers typically deliver in person and door-to-door in the community, and because some clients may experience challenges accessing health facilities at this time, we have introduced an eServices approach as part of our model. This approach sees Mentor Mothers use technology to reach their clients when they cannot meet in person, including regular one-on-one follow-up calls (underpinned by modified versions of our existing digital health apps), and Whats App chats to continue identifying and supporting those living with HIV, who may be more at risk of complications from COVID-19. We have also introduced a WhatsApp-based interactive platform – the “Virtual Mentor Mother” – where new and existing clients can receive on-demand COVID-19 and health information and support in a local language through a chatbot.

To support these brave team members who are working in extremely trying conditions, we have enacted a number of practical steps and policies, including:

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS

As one of the world’s largest employers of women living with HIV, we have educated our frontline staff on how to protect themselves from COVID-19 so they can stay safe, and can share this critical protection information with their clients.

PRACTICAL SUPPORT

We have procured hand sanitiser, contactless thermometers, masks, and gloves for frontline staff.

SERVICE DELIVERY

We have developed a full service delivery toolkit which allows our country teams to follow clear “what-if” scenarios, modify their operations if required, and rapidly provide appropriate guidance to local teams.

TRAVEL

m2m has banned all international travel for employees, has limited the number of people in vehicles owned by m2m, and we are avoiding mass modes of public transport wherever possible.

HEALTH POLICIES

We have robust self-isolation and self-quarantine policies in place for staff who may have been exposed to COVID-19, whether through travel or contact exposure to a suspected or confirmed case.

REMOTE MENTORING

We rapidly adapted our existing technology and developed new tools to enable Mentor Mothers to provide virtual support to our clients as part of their service mix.

PARTNERSHIPS

We enjoy strong partnerships with national and regional governments in our countries of operation. We are building on these partnerships, deepening them to include new departments working on COVID-19, and striking new partnerships with technology providers and other implementers.

WORKING CONDITIONS & POLICIES

We are working with government partners to make sure Mentor Mothers have adequate protection (equipment and protocols) at the health centres where they work.

All of these policies have been agreed by m2m’s Crisis Management Team. This cross-functional team meets frequently to assess global and country-specific public health developments; determine appropriate responses especially suited for the working environments of our facility-, community-, and office-based staff; and provide scientific-based direction to our 2,000 team members and hundreds of thousands of clients who will contribute to the flattening of the coronavirus curve.

Why m2m Can Help

m2m is uniquely positioned to support women, children, and adolescents access lifesaving health services and critical COVID-19 education and support, at this time of urgent need:

Proven: With COVID-19 posing greater risks to populations living with HIV, m2m’s work to promote HIV testing and adherence to treatment is a critical first line of COVID-19 defence in Africa. In 2019, 98% of women we served adhered to their treatment more than 95% of the time—surpassing WHO goals (95% of individuals with 80% adherence).

Essential: Mentor Mothers have been designated as “essential workers” in countries that have implemented a lockdown—a clear testament of their vital contribution. They promote health services and treatment for HIV and other health issues that can increase the risk of serious complications from COVID-19, as well as relieve the burden on doctors and nurses at understaffed health centres, allowing these clinicians to focus on medical care.

Trusted: Living and working in the same communities as those they serve, m2m’s Mentor Mothers are a trusted source of health information. They are experts at cutting through misinformation and stigma to deliver lifesaving health knowledge and facts.

Experienced: Since 2001, Mentor Mothers have reached over 11M women and children across 10 African countries, linking them with vital health services and support.

Join us in supporting the nearly 1,700 Mentor Mothers who are continuing to deliver their critical services. Donate now.

m2m Mentor Mothers in action in Malawi

Support Our Appeal

We need you more than ever. While much of Europe and North America are seeing infections plummet thanks to the mass roll out of vaccines, it will be many months before widespread vaccination across the African continent, and there are ominous signs a third wave is starting. While m2m Mentor Mothers remain steadfast in their mission of bringing health and hope to all, at a time where both are urgently needed, you can play a key part in ensuring they can reach even more families while staying safe by supporting our emergency appeal.

Your support could help us:

Respond: Continue to ensure that we can support our teams with testing, cover medical costs if they become infected, and/or salaries and benefits if it becomes unsafe for them to work.

$80 – could pay for a Mentor Mother to get tested for COVID-19.

Reach: Expand the rollout of our ‘Virtual Mentor Mother’ initiative, the innovative and interactive digital platform we have developed to support Mentor Mothers in their client outreach with both COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS services.

$200 – could fund a digital tablet for one Mentor Mother.

Protect: Purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, and hand sanitiser, to our frontline staff who continue to tirelessly work to ensure the health needs of our clients are met.

$20 – could help buy a basic PPE kit.

Join us in reversing the tide of COVID-19 while protecting our frontline staff.

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COVID-19 Resources

Combating COVID-19

A shared resource center for our m2m community

As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, m2m has created this shared Knowledge Centre. It contains regularly updated materials sourced by our team on the interactions of COVID-19 with pregnancy and childbirth; HIV, TB, and Malaria, and the virus’ impact on children. A number of other relevant categories have also been included. Our focus is on African and/or developing country contexts, so—while some global materials have been selected—all offer learnings that can be adapted and applied to these contexts.