At mothers2mothers (m2m), we are committed to optimising our resources to deliver the greatest impact for the communities we serve. As part of this ongoing effort, we made the difficult decision to wind down our operations in Tanzania by the end of December 2024. While this marks a pause in our story in Tanzania, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the incredible progress we have made.

Since relaunching our programme in Tanzania in 2020, m2m has worked hand in hand with government health agencies, community-based organisations, and local leaders to ensure that women, children, and families have access to high-quality health education and services. Our Mentor Mother Model has been at the heart of this effort—training, employing, and supporting women living with HIV frontline health workers who provide essential support to mothers navigating pregnancy, early childhood, and HIV care.

Over the course of the project, m2m successfully reached 18,167 mother-and-baby pairs through prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, including 3,789 male partners with HIV preventions services. In addition to the primary focus on PMTCT, m2m’s programme in Tanzania broadened its scope to offer health education and support to 274,049 people and nutritional screening and education to 12,000 clients. Furthermore, the project contributed to systemic change through the implementation of new national policies.

We worked closely with the Ministry of Health and local partners to deliver high-impact HIV services. This included recruiting, training, and employing 35 Mother Champions—the name for m2m Mentor Mothers in Tanzania—who were placed at 10 sites in the Morogoro Region before being successfully transitioned to another partner when m2m’s project concluded. Through home visits, facility-based counselling, and community outreach, these community health workers provided health education, psychosocial support, and linkage to care—helping thousands of women and children overcome health challenges and thrive.

Exceeding Global Health Targets 

m2m is proud to have surpassed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets in Tanzania for our enrolled clients over a four-year period (October 1, 2019 – December 10, 2023). Our achievements include:

• 100% HIV status awareness among pregnant women.
• 100% initiation of antiretroviral therapy for newly diagnosed clients.
• 99% viral suppression among pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• 100% of eligible HIV-exposed infants receiving Early Infant Diagnosis services. Of these, 99% were tested within two months—well above the UNAIDS target.

Our work also contributed to long-term systemic change. We supported the development of the National Operational Framework for Community prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, integrating the Mentor Mother Model into Tanzania’s national health system.
A Chapter Ends—But Our Commitment Remains 

This is not the first time we have closed operations in Tanzania. From 2008 to 2012, m2m delivered direct services in the country before concluding that phase of work, only to return in 2020. We remain hopeful that we will once again find the opportunity to contribute to Tanzania’s healthcare landscape.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Tanzania, our funders, implementing partners, and most importantly, the Mother Champions and clients who placed their trust in us. Our mission to create health, hope, and an HIV-free future remains unwavering. We will continue to work towards ending paediatric AIDS and strengthening health systems across Africa, ensuring that no woman, child, or family is left behind.

Asante sana, Tanzania.