The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) recently awarded m2m with £984,000 to help protect thousands of babies from contracting HIV through mother-to-child transmission.  Dr Mitch Besser, Founder and Medical Director, recently met with Sir Elton John to discuss the work mothers2mothers does and how the grant will substantially assist our program across Africa.  To read the full press release click here.

mothers2mothers Kenya recently welcomed former Chief of Staff for Mrs. Laura Bush and current Senior Advisor at the George W. Bush Foundation Anita McBridge in Nairobi for a site visit at Riruta Health Centre.  Anita spent time with mothers and staff hearing their stories and saw first-hand how effective the m2m program is in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.

Anita with m2m staff and facility nursing officer (in blue)

Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and soccer superstar David Beckham visited mothers2mothers in Site B, Khayelitsha in Cape Town and spoke to both Mentor Mothers and clients about living with HIV.  David also had the opportunity to meet some of the children who have been born HIV-free thanks to the intervention of the m2m program.

David Beckham with Mentor Mother Tamara and her son Sesiphi

David Beckham with HIV-negative Sesiphi

Wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown Sarah Brown welcomed mothers2mothers at 10 Downing Street, where in commemoration of World AIDS Day she joined m2m's organization-wide candle-lighting ceremony.  m2m staff were also treated by a performance by the African Children's Choir who were visiting from Nelspruit, South Africa.

The m2m staff at 10 Downing Street

Sarah Brown lighting the candle

Sarah Brown with the candle

The African Children's Choir

Head Office, Cape Town

Commemorative candle lit at 12:20pm	Staff members Linda and Tshifiwa	Staff writing HIV Messages of Hope

Nolubabalo reading HIV 'Prayer'

SC Nomandithini telling her story

North West Province

Nolungile Clinic, Khayelitsha

Rwanda

The theme for the World AIDS Day celebrations was Condoms as a means of dual protection. Let's talk about it, let's access it. let's use it: a fundamental right for all!

Kenya

Dr. Mitch Besser recently spoke at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, a 300-year old powerhouse of science, innovation and research.  Dr. Besser's presentation 'HIV: Mind the Gap' laid out the inequities of treatment in resource-rich and resource-poor countries and showcasing mothers2mothers.  Guests included Annie Lennox, the Duke of Kent, Baronness Susan Greenfield, Peter Yates, chair of the Royal Institution of Australia, and Mohamed Osman from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Peter Yates, Annie Lennox, the Duke of Kent and Baronness Susan Greenfield

Baronness Susan Greenfield, Mitch Besser and Annie Lennox

Dr. Mitch Besser presenting on HIV and m2m at the Royal Institution

Annie Lennox and David Torres

Mohamed Osman and Annie Lennox

Pictures courtesy of Johnny Haddock

On 14 October 2009, m2m supporter and friend Kevin O'Neill hosted a fantastic fundraiser on behalf of the organization in his home in Dallas, Texas.  The special guest of honor was former First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, who has been a long-time supporter of mothers2mothers since she visited a site in Khayelitsha in 2005.  Guests also included m2m board members Judy Gluckstern and Debbie Bickerstaff and Martha Williamson, writer of the hit TV shot 'Touched By an Angel".  

m2m staff members Robin, Susan, Babalwa and Mitch	staff with the O'Neils, Judy Gluckstern and Martha Williamson	staff with Martha Wiliamson and Judy Gluckstern	Babalwa embracing Mrs. Laura 'Grandmama' Bush
Robin and Babalwa speaking with Mrs. Laura Bush	Laura Bush, Babalwa and Debbie and Glen Bickerstaff	Babalwa recounting her experience to the guests	Dr. Mitch Besser introducing m2m to the guests
Mrs. Laura Bush speaking about her involvement with m2m	Mrs. Laura Bush wearing the m2m badge	Dr Mitch Besser, Mrs. Laura Bush and Robin Smalley	a beaded gift from m2m to Mrs. Laura Bush

Mitch, Robin and Babalwa with Mrs. Laura Bush

guests at the fundraiser listening to Mrs. Laura Bush

Co-founder and International Director of m2m, Robin Smalley, travelled to Washington, D.C. to be part of the Pfizer panel on 'Mobilizing Resources for Strengthening Afrian Health Systems: A Case Study of Pfizer's Global Health Fellows.'  She also had the opportunity to meet with Mary Jordan (Senior Technical Advisor for Public/Private Partnerships, USAID), Ambassador Peter Bodde (US Ambassador to Malawi) and Rekha Chalisani (Senior Manager of Worldwide Corporate Responsibility, Pfizer).

Robin speaking at the Pfizer panel in Washington, D.C.

Robin, Mary Jordan, Ambr. Peter Bodde and Rekha Chalisani

Annie Lennox with m2m staff and clients

 

  (If you cannot see the video below, please visit this link to watch it on YouTube)

Maria at the conference venue

Maria presenting at the conference

Maria with her certificate of participation

Malawian Mentor Mother, Maria Posita, represented m2m at the recent Africa Forum 2009 held in Mangochi, Malawi from 21 - 26 June. Hosted by Project Concern International (PCI), this week-long forum focused on People Living with AIDS (PLWA) and discussions were held about living positively and good nutrition as well as remedying 'donor dependency syndrome.' Maria spoke about being an HIV-positive mother and positive parenting which was both challenging and rewarding for the m2m Mentor Mother, and following her presentation Maria was invited to an HIV/AIDS Women forum to be held this November.

Emily, David Furnish, Sir Elton John and other guests of honor

Emily on stage at the ball

Emily telling her story

Emily with Sir Higgins and Babs Evans, EJAF Grants Manager

Emily Owino, a site coordinator in Kenya, recently attended Sir Elton John's White Tie and Tiaras ball held at his house in Old Windsor, UK on Thursday, 25 June 2009.  A fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Emily was invited to attend on behalf of m2m and told her story and spoke about m2m and her role in helping and empowering HIV-positive women.  A once in a lifetime opportunity, Emily had the opportunity to get on a plane for the first time, see Big Ben, go to the House of Commons, go shopping for an evening gown and, of course, meet Sir Elton John and several other celebrities!

Zambian First Lady Thandiwe Banda with the m2m Zambia Team

m2m Acting Country Manager Dorothy Chikampa with Zambian First Lady

Thandiwe Banda, the Zambian First Lady, recently visited a m2m site in Zambia after having met Robin Smalley at a conference for African First Ladies held in Los Angeles in May. This visit was just a few days after Dr. Mitch Besser and Gene Falk met the Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, at the World Economic Forum held in Cape Town.