Young Mentor Mothers during a training workshop (Zimbabwe)
Project Lead(s): April Ricotta
This project proposes an innovative approach to decrease the risks of babies born to HIV-infected adolescent mothers, to improve long-term outcomes. The project utilizes HIV-positive "Mentor Mothers", trained as peer counsellors to provide care and support to HIV-positive adolescent mothers and their children up to age two, through weekly home visits, daily SMS reminders, assistance at facilities and support groups. The young mother receives nutritional supplements for babies over six months, information and psychosocial support, providing the knowledge, support and skills to enhance her child's physical, cognitive and well-being, and helping prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
