mothers2mothers (m2m) launched services for the first time in Nigeria in 2024, with Dr. Chinyerem Immanuel at the helm. A medical doctor with over 13 years of experience, she brings vision, courage, and empathy to a country dealing with a high burden of both communicable (such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).  

Nigeria is home to nearly two million people living with HIV, and one in four children born to mothers with HIV still acquires the virus. In 2023 alone, 22,000 children were newly infected. Without a scaled programme in Nigeria, eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV across Africa cannot be achieved. 

Under Dr. Chinyerem’s leadership, m2m introduced its proven Mentor Mother model—employing, training, and supporting local women living with HIV as full-time community health workers. Within the first year, the team reached thousands of women and children, employed 45 frontline staff, and began influencing national health policy. 

In this edition of our Leadership Spotlight, Chinyerem shares how her team is proving that health care in Nigeria can’t stop—and won’t stop.

Q: m2m’s “Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop.” highlights resilience in the face of global funding cuts. How does that message resonate in Nigeria? 

It reflects our daily reality. Even when funding is uncertain, the needs of women and children are not. We cannot pause care because every delay costs lives. For us, “Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop.” is not just a slogan—it’s a commitment to keep going, no matter what. 

Q: What inspired your journey into public health and eventually m2m? 

I began as a medical doctor in a government primary health facility, but I wanted to do more than sit behind a desk. I wanted to build systems, empower healthcare workers, and advocate for access to care. 

Joining m2m was a natural step—here, women are at the forefront of transforming their communities. I’m excited about the vision and mission of m2m. We leave no one behind in the community and this improves the lives of women, children, and other family members.  

Q: What are the biggest health challenges in Nigeria, and how is m2m making a difference? 

Limited access to quality maternal health services, stigma, and preventable deaths remain major challenges. m2m addresses these by employing women living with HIV as Mentor Mothers. With training and digital tools, they link women to antenatal care, antiretroviral treatment, and psychosocial support. The impact is clear: improved service uptake, stronger retention in care, and healthier mothers and babies. 

Q: How is the Mentor Mother model being received? 

In Nigeria, community health workers were often hired on an ad-hoc basis. m2m introduced a structured approach—full-time employment, fair pay, and strong support. That has set us apart, and values that I stand by and am extremely proud of. We formalised our partnership with the Government of Nigeria through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme, cementing m2m’s role as a trusted partner. We also joined the national Technical Working Group on community health workers, and are recognised for bringing a sustainable model to Nigeria. 

Q: What does leadership mean to you at this moment? 

Leadership is about vision, courage, and empathy. It’s the courage to challenge government thinking, the vision to show the value of women, and the empathy to keep communities at the heart of our work. That combination helps us deliver lasting change. 

m2m is leveraging our multi-country experience to work with government and other partners to achieve elimination of mother child transmission in Nigeria, like we have in other countries. We are also partnering with other organisations who are seeing our impact, providing them with technical assistance.  

Q: Tell us about your team.  

They are extraordinary. I make sure every voice is heard, which sparks innovation. Our Mentor Mothers are especially inspiring—many have overcome stigma and now stand proudly as leaders in their communities. Their resilience embodies “Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop.”

Q: What’s your vision for the future of m2m in Nigeria? 

I hope it’s not too ambitious, but in the next three to five years, I want us to be active in many more states. The need is huge, and our model works. With government, partners, and the private sector, we want to scale so that no woman or child is left behind. 

Want to get to know Chinyerem even better? Explore her inspiring journey and impact at mothers2mothers here.

Listen to Chinyerem in her own words: