“There’s no such thing as hard-to-reach people. There are only hard-to-get services.” This powerful statement from mothers2mothers (m2m) Country Lead, Mpolokeng Mohloai, at this year’s International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024), perfectly encapsulates both mothers2mothers’ (m2m) guiding light and the theme of the conference: Put People First. 

AIDS 2024, the largest global gathering on HIV/AIDS, took place in Munich, Germany, and virtually between the 22nd and 26th of July. The biannual event brings together scientists, policymakers, healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, funders, media, and community members—all united by a common goal: to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030…and m2m was proud to be in attendance.  

This year’s theme, ‘Put People First’, focused on building a more compassionate, inclusive, and innovative HIV response that promotes well-being for all, regardless of age, region, or population. It’s a theme that resonates deeply with us at m2m, and we were proud to showcase our innovative and impactful peer-based model throughout the conference, demonstrating how m2m works to make “hard-to-get services” a thing of the past by ensuring everyone, everywhere has access to the care they need. 

Our highlights from the week include hosting a satellite session in collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc; amplifying the voices of two women at the forefront of our work, m2m community health worker Jessie Mzemba and m2m Lesotho Country Lead Mpolokeng Mohloai, who shared vital insights from ground; and challenging stereotypes with our art exhibit at the Global Village. Read on to discover more about our experiences and contributions at AIDS 2024. 

Convening our satellite session: Radical Honesty and Bold Solutions Needed to End AIDS. 

Taking place on the penultimate day of the conference, we were delighted to host a satellite session with the support of Gilead. Over 200 people joined to hear speakers from m2m, PEPFAR, Gilead, UNAIDS, UNICEF, Y+ Global, and Advocacy for the Prevention of HIV & AIDS (APHA) tackle topics including colonialism, tokenism, inequity, youth leadership and how overcoming these intersecting challenges with bold, people-focused models is critical to ending HIV/AIDS. 

The 60-minute session was far too short to do justice to these critical issues—so stay tuned for follow-up discussions! We’re also working on a full session report, including audience feedback and input, which will be shared with UNAIDS as they embark on a strategy review. 

A big thanks to all who made the session a success – it truly took a village! And special gratitude to Christine Stegling, Deputy Director at UNAIDS, who moderated, and to Gilead Sciences, Inc, whose support and partnership made the event possible. 

m2m Peer Mentor Jessie being a voice for young women in Malawi 

We were delighted that m2m Spokeswoman and Peer Mentor Jessie Mzemba from Malawi earned a scholarship to attend AIDS 2024, granting her the opportunity to be a voice for her generation and peers in Malawi at this important global conference. She was also selected by Munich Youth Conference to be an official social media voice at AIDS 2024 and was tasked with creating and sharing content about the conference throughout the week. With a lot on her plate, Jessie rose to the challenge, determined to make her voice heard!

On Sunday, Jessie took part in the Munich Youth Force pre-conference event Breaking Barriers Building Power and Forging Alliances, where she discussed the need for policy makers to involve adolescents and young people in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, stating “to change the outlook for adolescents, we must double down on community-led solutions” and calling for quality education for girls in both urban and rural areas.  

On Wednesday, Jessie spoke at a session convened by Pact: Addressing unmet mental health needs among people living with and affected by HIV while strengthening HIV outcomes. Jessie had the opportunity to share her experiences working in the communities around Lilongwe, Malawi to deliver health services, education, and support to other women and girls living with HIV. Jessie highlighted the mental health struggles faced by adolescents in her community, and discussed how Peer Mentors like herself can become trusted sources of advice: “What makes Peer Mentors so effective is that we have walked in our clients’ shoes. I know what it feels like to find out you are living with HIV. I have experienced anxiety about people discovering my status, and have struggled taking my treatment. Whenever I go to the community, I have hope and courage about what I will tell my clients because I have been there too.” 

Exploring the cross-cultural learnings between Africa and Appalachia 

m2m Lesotho country lead, Mpolokeng Mohloai, served as a panelist at Making the Shot: A Cross-Cultural Conversation about Collaboration from Africa to Appalachia, organised by Community Education Group, HIV Vaccine Trials Network, and Society for AIDS in Africa. The discussion brought together experts, stories, and strategies to explore how these two regions can learn from one another and enhance their efforts in HIV prevention and treatment. Mpolokeng shared how m2m’s achievement of virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV was made possible in part by m2m Peer Mentors serving as living testimonies that HIV treatment works. 

Through over two decades of impact, m2m’s work has showcased the power of mutual trust and understanding in not only encouraging individuals to access health services, but in supporting them to adhere to treatment and remain in care long-term.  

Hosting a powerful art exhibit, Representation Reimagined, in the Global Village 

We were thrilled to present an art exhibit, Representation Reimagined, at the AIDS 2024 Global Village. Showcasing powerful images by Austrian-Nigerian multi-disciplinary artist Cameron Ugbodu, the exhibit celebrated the resilience and strength of women living with HIV and demonstrated that living with HIV neither defines an individual nor limits their potential. The series of portraits depicted m2m Peer Mentors, as fine art subjects, confronting preconceived ideas about how African women living with HIV are expected to look and what they can achieve. 

We were especially honored to have UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima and H.S.H Princess Stephanie of Monaco visit and engage with the exhibit, confirming the importance of creating a dedicated space to capture impressions and meaningful conversations about stereotypes around HIV/AIDS. 

m2m’s widespread impact and visibility throughout the conference 

AIDS 2024 was an invaluable opportunity for m2m to connect with friends, partners, and new colleagues, all united in the mission to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Across multiple channels and platforms, our team showcased the impact of our community-driven approach and our dedication to inclusive, people-first health care. Our booth in the Exhibition Hall was a hub of activity, drawing attendees from around the world eager to engage with m2m’s work. We were honored to collaborate with organizations like +Life, who interviewed m2m’s Lesotho Country Lead, Mpolokeng Mohloai, about enhancing HIV screening and linkage to care through strategic partnerships, and PEPFAR, who interviewed m2m Spokeswoman and Peer Mentor Jessie Mzemba and featured our images in their exhibition booth, granting extra visibility to m2m at AIDS 2024. 

As the dust settles on AIDS 2024, we at m2m are feeling inspired and energised by our and the wider HIV/AIDS community’s commitment to building a more inclusive, innovative, and compassionate HIV response. UNAIDS’ 2024 report, released on the first day of the conference, underscored the urgency of our collective effort, emphasising that the decisions taken by world leaders this year will determine whether we successfully end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. As we move forward, we remain committed to putting people first, amplifying frontline voices, and nurturing the connections we have made in our work towards ending HIV/AIDS. Together, we can ensure a healthier, more inclusive future for all.