A lack of knowledge and poor hygiene causes avoidable HIV infections of young women and babies. Undiagnosed HIV positive mothers become ill and unable to care for their children.

International aid cuts are reversing decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDs in Tanzania. Vital education and prevention programmes – ‘social vaccines’ – have been cut, making a bad situation worse for young women.

Ace Africa and Mercury Pheonix Trust take action

In remote, inaccessible communities in Northern Tanzania, mobile health clinics had to stop their work, making it harder for pregnant women and mothers to access vital ante and post-natal care.

An innovative £40,000 two year project will reduce the risk of HIV/AIDs for mothers, and mothers to be, in rural areas with little or no formal health care.

Working alongside the Ministry of Health, five mobile outreach maternity clinics, trained staff and supplies will reach 30 forgotten villages, providing information, testing and medical support.

The mobile clinics will target young mothers, their babies, pregnant women and traditional care givers who support entire villages. The care givers will be trained to prevent mother-to-child transmission and connect women with the mobile clinics.

Better information for all sexually active young people is a key part of the project. Our internationally recognised community drama team will perform close to mobile centres. Loud, colourful performances provide information that help young people avoid the disease and also promote testing, so people know their status and can access support.

More than a donor – a true partner

Mercury Pheonix Trust are a long term, extremely generous long-term partner. We are proud of our work together, fighting HIV/AIDs in Tanzania and Kenya and changing hundreds of lives.

“Mercury Phoenix Trust fights HIV/AIDs by funding education and awareness programmes worldwide, distributing over £18 million to-date. We have funded six Ace Africa projects since 2019. Ace consistently delivers high quality, tangible outcomes for both individuals and communities. We wholeheartedly recommend our partner Ace Africa.”  
Janice Page, MPT Grant Manager