mothers2mothers (m2m) is pleased to announce that we have joined the Frontline Health Workers Coalition (FHWC). FHWC is an alliance of organisations working together to urge greater and more strategic investments in frontline health workers in low- and middle-income countries. Through this coalition, m2m will continue to champion the voices of frontline health workers and highlight their impact and contributions, to ensure fair remuneration, full recognition and accreditation in national and global policy frameworks.

Why mothers2mothers has joined the Frontline Health Workers Coalition

m2m Mentor Mother Nonhlanhla Motha delivering health education and support in her community in South Africa.

Since our creation in 2001, m2m Mentor Mothers—the women living with HIV trained and employed by m2m as frontline health workers—have shown the impact and change that this cadre of health professionals can bring to the health and well-being of their peers and communities. Over the last two decades, almost 12,000 Mentor Mothers have reached nearly 15 million women, children, adolescents, and families across a dozen of African nations with life-saving health education, support, and services. 

Yet, despite making up almost 70% of the healthcare workforce, women occupy less than 25% of the most influential leadership positions in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 14% of Community Health Workers are salaried. This is unacceptable, and that is why m2m believes that female frontline health workers everywhere, especially across sub-Saharan Africa, should be fairly remunerated and get the recognition they deserve through formal accreditation.  

Our Position and Goals

m2m Mentor Mother Limakatso Mosoeu administering an HIV test in a clinic in Lesotho.

Through m2m’s membership with FHWC, we will therefore advocate for more significant strategic financial investments in frontline healthcare workers, including Community Health Workers (CHWs), in African countries facing health workforce shortages. These strategic investments in the CHW workforce will be vital to continue leveraging and scaling their contribution, which is so critical to the provision of primary health care services, and in ensuring that no one is left behind. Our FHWC membership will ultimately help us get closer to Universal Health Coverage by positioning m2m’s cadre of paid, professionalised, skilled, and fully digitalised CHWs as essential for delivering quality primary health care.   

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