Breaking the Chain

In Zimbabwe, thousands of babies are born every year to HIV infected adolescent mothers. These infants suffer significant risks that lead to poor brain development, delayed physical growth and cognitive delays. The Breaking the Chain Project proposes an innovative approach to decrease these risks and improve long term outcomes. The project utilizes Mentor Mothers (MMs) who are HIV positive, aged 18-24 and trained as peer counselors. MMs provide care and support to HIV positive adolescent mothers and their children up to age two. MMs provide weekly home visits to the young mothers and babies, daily SMS reminders, assistance in the facilities and support groups. The young mother receives nutritional supplements for the babies over six months, information and psycho social support. This peer contact offers the adolescent mother the knowledge, support and skills to enhance her child's physical, cognitive and psycho social well being and prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.