Kenya Launches Program to Prevent Mother-to-Child HIV

The Kenyan government has officially launched the Kenya Plan to End AIDS in Children by 2027, a bold national strategy that emphasizes eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV (alongside syphilis and hepatitis B).
A cornerstone of the plan is the Kenya Mentor Mother Program (KMMP), which trains and supports HIV-positive women ( mentor mothers ) to provide peer counselling, follow-up, and psychosocial support to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers living with HIV. These mentor mothers help with treatment adherence, disclosure, and maintaining care continuity for both parents and infants.
Health officials say the program leverages strong community networks to reach mothers in all 47 counties. The approach has already shown promising outcomes: mentor-mother-supported clients are more likely to stay in care, adhere to antiretroviral therapy, and achieve better viral suppression.
This initiative aligns with Kenya’s commitment to the global triple elimination framework, aiming to prevent the transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B from mothers to their babies.