The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has rolled out a new radio-driven campaign, “Mentor Mothers,” aimed at eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and strengthening maternal health awareness nationwide.
The initiative, unveiled during a stakeholder engagement in Abuja, brings together PMTCT coordinators, mentor mothers, and traditional birth attendants to expand community-level education and close persistent knowledge gaps.
Mr. Steve Aborisade, Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager at AHF Nigeria, said the programme will air weekly on ASO Radio for 13 weeks, targeting women—especially in underserved communities—with accurate, accessible information on HIV prevention and treatment.
He stressed that pediatric HIV remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, largely driven by limited awareness among pregnant women about prevention options.
“We are using radio as a powerful tool to reach the grassroots, ensuring women understand how to protect themselves and their children,” he said.
According to Aborisade, the programme has already debuted in Benue State, where it recorded strong listener engagement through call-ins and interactive sessions.
Beyond the airwaves, the campaign reinforces ongoing community interventions by deploying mentor mothers—women living with HIV who have successfully delivered HIV-negative babies—to provide peer support and practical guidance.
Mrs. Omoseke Bamijoko, PMTCT Focal Person for AHF Nigeria in the FCT, underscored that with proper medication and adherence to PMTCT protocols, women living with HIV can give birth to HIV-free children.
She noted that while HIV testing is integrated into routine antenatal care, low awareness and poor clinic attendance continue to limit access to life-saving services.
“Our focus is to drive awareness, increase uptake of antenatal care, and ensure women receive the treatment they need,” she said.
Reaching hard-to-reach communities
Also speaking, Malam Nuhu Aliyu of the FCT AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme said the initiative would play a vital role in reaching hard-to-reach communities and advancing Nigeria’s goal of eliminating HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis by 2030.
Stakeholders, including Mrs. Stella Ebeh, emphasised the need for sustained awareness campaigns and women’s empowerment to curb transmission rates, while traditional birth attendant Hajiya Zainab Rabiu highlighted the programme’s potential to improve HIV screening uptake among pregnant women.
Esther John, a mentor mother from Kuje, called for intensified outreach, noting that stigma and misinformation still discourage many from testing and treatment.
By combining grassroots engagement with mass media, AHF Nigeria is positioning the “Mentor Mothers” campaign as a strategic push to boost PMTCT uptake and significantly cut new pediatric HIV infections across the country.
