mothers2mothers (m2m) operations in Tanzania are focused on supporting the government’s strategy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). This work is funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) RISE II mechanism.

From our office in Dodoma, m2m is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children (MoHCDGEC) and other stakeholders. In 2022, we played an instrumental role in the launch of the new National eMTCT Strategic Plan and Operational Framework for Tanzania. m2m set up an initial steering committee responsible for conducting the landscape analysis and documented the best practices for improved PMTCT continuum of care across health facilities and communities.

In 2021, we scaled up our work in the country by launching direct services in the Morogoro Region, to better support pregnant and breastfeeding women and their families. Thirty-five local women living with HIV were recruited and trained as community health workers known locally as Mother Champions. They provide women, adolescents, children, and special populations—our four core client groups—with integrated primary health care services, focusing on early detection, referrals, and education and support that ensures our clients stay in care for the long term.

This is not the first time m2m has worked in Tanzania—from 2008 to 2012 we delivered direct services in the country. We will build on this experience and work with stakeholders to champion and support efforts on key PMTCT guidelines on both national and regional levels.