ENABLE MENTOR MOTHER PROGRAMME COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HIV PREVENTION
“With the correct treatment, care and support it is possible
to almost guarantee children will be born HIV-free.”
The Enable Mentor Mother Programme is One to One Africa’s flagship intervention, reaching families across 38 villages in the Nyandeni sub‑district of OR Tambo. Local women are recruited, trained, and supported as Mentor Mothers, delivering door‑to‑door healthcare for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five. Each Mentor Mother supports around 150 households, offering health education, referrals, growth monitoring, HIV prevention and treatment adherence, and psychosocial care for families facing multiple vulnerabilities.
Many of the households reached include children affected by HIV, orphans, or those living with chronically ill caregivers. By working directly within these homes, Mentor Mothers strengthen the protective environment that allows children to survive and thrive—even when formal support systems are out of reach.
Recent results:
- 1,833 children aged 0–5 supported, including 461 HIV‑exposed infants.
- 95% ART adherence among HIV‑positive mothers (target 90%).
- 99% of HIV‑exposed babies tested with PCR; 0% transmission since programme inception.
- 94% immunisation coverage for children under six (up from 72% in 2019).
- 95% rehabilitation of low‑birth‑weight babies (target 60%).
- 89% rehabilitation of underweight children (target 90%).
- 100% ANC/PNC support for pregnant women and new mothers.
- 0 maternal deaths, 0 HIV‑related child deaths, 0 TB deaths.
These outcomes demonstrate sustained reductions in HIV transmission and significant improvements in child survival and wellbeing. In communities where children are most vulnerable, the Mentor Mother model delivers consistent, trusted care that protects early childhood development and breaks intergenerational cycles of poor health and poverty.
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MEET OUR MENTOR MOTHERS
NOKWANDISA SITHONGA
Nokwandisa is a single mother of two children. Prior to joining One to One Africa in August 2019, she worked on different community projects which included preschools, roadworks and volunteering in the local clinic.
ZUKISWA NGETU
Zukiswa joined us in 2019. She is 30 years old and she’s married and has two children who are 7 and 5 years old. Previously, Zukiswa worked for Small Projects Foundation for two years and was based at Pilani Clinic. Zukiswa loves serving and improving the lives of the community.
NOSIZWE PETER
Nosizwe “Mama” Peter is 53 years old. She is a widow with four children aged 15, 25, 28 and 35 years old. She joined One to One Africa in July 2016. She previously ran a shebeen and also worked for community projects in her area.
MAM’D DALINGXOLO
Nokhanyile “Mam’D” started working for Enable in July 2016. She is a 50-year-old widow with four children, who are 28, 26 (twins) and 18 years old. She previously worked in her community doing various programmes.
“The Mentor Mother first came to me when I was five months pregnant. I only started taking my medication after she encouraged me to. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. I think I would be dead by now.”
“In 2003, I tested positive for HIV. I was discriminated by my community, even by my family. Being a Mentor Mother makes me feel like a helper. I advise people by making them realise that this (HIV) is not the end of the world for them. They can still get up and go on to achieve their dreams and not just sit around waiting for the day they will pass away.”
CASE STUDY: MENTOR MOTHERS ZANELE AND VUYOKAZI
By Miranda Prynne
We joined Mentor Mothers Zanele and Vuyokazi on a visit. The mother is nine months pregnant, due any day, and is complaining of swelling in her legs and pain in her hips. She is 35 years old but looks a lot older. She is weighed, her blood pressure checked, and she talks to Zanele and Vuyokazi as they update her files. She has their mobile numbers to ring if she needs any help. They advise her to ring the clinic if the pain in her hip gets worse and she must arrange to go to the clinic the moment she goes into labour. They hand her a sealed package containing antiseptic and wipes to clean the umbilical cord, just in case.
The advice from the Mentor Mothers is simple enough – breastfeed your babies, feed your children a varied diet with fruit and vegetables when possible, ensure your children are immunised, if you carry HIV, do not stop taking your antiretrovirals, ever.
Valerie Govender
Xolelwa Vimbani
Rudzani Muloiwa
Mentor Mothers
Thabisa Bobo
Thandie Matikinca
Rhodwell Shamu
Ondela Manjezi-Sokomani
