Angola

Date Started:

2019

Locations (incl. clinics and communities):

New Clients Enrolled (2021):

10,306

New Clients Reached Through eServices (2021):

239

Mentor Mothers (2021):

Senior Portfolio Lead:

Kimberly Grubb

Our work in Angola

m2m has been working in Angola since 2019 with a mandate to support the Government of Angola through innovative, scalable solutions to achieve an AIDS-free generation, and end preventable child and maternal deaths. Our work is being supported through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the RISE II mechanism.

Through the First Lady’s Born Free to Shine campaign, m2m is providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in health facilities and surrounding communities in Benguela, Cunene, and Lunda Sul provinces. At the community level, Mentor Mothers are improving maternal and infant health outcomes through the provision of PMTCT services to clients who test positive for HIV, combined with index case tracing and testing (ICTT) of their sexual partners and biological children—an important step in bringing trusted care closer to communities. For those who test positive, they are linked to a health facility to initiate treatment.

We are also strengthening the health system, by providing technical assistance to the Angolan Ministry of Health and the Instituto Nacional de Luta Contra o SIDA (INLS), while also contributing to the achievement of the 95-95-95 targets through ICTT. Through USAID’s Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global Vax), m2m is supporting the Government of Angola to provide COVID-19 vaccines in Huambo and Cunene Provinces.

Our Reach in Angola

Success Story

Zaida Antonio Andre Barros is a 29-year-old mother of four beautiful children; three boys and one girls. She is working for m2m Angola as a Site Coordinator and is championing women in her community to live positively. She shares her story:

During an antenatal visit following the birth of my daughter, I tested positive for HIV. I did not know much about the virus, but believed that it could kill. When I received my results, I was devastated.

It took me weeks to process that my life had changed forever. My family shunned me and my self-esteem suffered. I was afraid to leave my house and felt that people were judging me, and could see I was living with HIV.

My life changed when I met mother2mothers in December 2019 when I visited the clinic to collect my ARVs. I was keen to find out more about how Mentor Mothers were supporting other women, and successfully applied for a job.

I’m now working to break the stigma, and encouraging people to disclose and to live positively. This job has helped me achieve so much. I’m able to send my children to school, and I will begin building a home soon. I am very proud that I can support my family financially.