This International Women’s Day, mothers2mothers (m2m) is celebrating the transformative power of community-led, people-powered health care, delivered by local African women—because ‘Health Starts With Her’.  

At mothers2mothers (m2m), women are delivering the primary health care their peers from their very own community need and deserve. m2m Mentor Mothers—local women living with HIV trained and employed as community health workers (CHWs)—are transforming health care and contributing to a healthier world for all.  

Women like Bupe Sinkala, an m2m CHW in Lusaka, Zambia, who has dedicated her life to the battle against HIV/AIDS, and has helped thousands of women, children, and families find health and happiness. Every day, she ensures that women, children, adolescents, and families get the services and support they need for conditions like HIV, Tuberculosis, and cervical cancer from someone they trust.   

“Seeing my clients happy and satisfied inspires me—many come to us feeling worried or unsure but leave feeling stronger and more confident. Knowing that I’m making a real difference gives me so much joy,” Bupe shares.    

“What keeps me motivated is seeing my clients have hope whenever I share my personal story with them after my own life-changing diagnosis. I am educating my clients with the right information and leading by example so that they can make informed decisions.”  

And while our impact starts with one woman, connecting with another, the collective impact of all m2m Mentor Mothers has translated into a powerful ripple of change, ensuring healthier futures for all. In fact, since m2m started in 2001, we’ve helped to keep alive over three million at-risk women and children. And, in just quarter 4 of 2024, the estimated maternal mortality rate for our enrolled clients was 12 times lower than the regional benchmark.  

This is what is possible when health starts with her. 

Indeed, Bupe’s individual impact is felt far and wide, and recognised by other health professionals she works with:  

“I am inspired by the dedication and motherly care that Bupe shows in her work at m2m. Her clients trust and respect her so much that they always ask for her when they visit the facility. Because of this, they take her health advice seriously,” says Angela Nyauma, Psychosocial Counselor at the Zambia Ministry of Health.   

Bupe’s impact shows that when women lead, communities get what they need. Because #HealthStartsWithHer.  

But with the recent, sudden changes to foreign aid, we need your support more than ever.  

Will you make a donation to support us?   

m2m has made so much progress since m2m was created in 2001. In 2023, the transmission rate of HIV from mother-to-child for enrolled m2m clients was an unprecedented 0%. We can’t—and won’t!—stop until we realise our dream of an HIV-free generation.      

Together we can ensure that women and girls once again get the critical health care they need and deserve.