More than 200 babies are still infected with HIV each day in sub-
Saharan Africa. Most of them acquire HIV from their mothers
during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
The charity Mothers2Mothers train, employ, and empower local
mothers living with HIV, called Mentor Mothers, as frontline
healthcare workers in understaffed health centres and within
communities. Mentor Mothers provide essential health education
and support to women on how they can protect their babies from
HIV infection, and keep themselves and their families healthy.
Mentor Mothers’ intimate understanding of the social and cultural
challenges of living with HIV gives them a unique ability to form
trusted relationships with other women, vital to helping them
overcome their fears and make lifesaving decisions.
These portraits shot at a Malawi health centre collaborate with
women to explore the intimate bond between them in supporting
each other.
Richard Ansett’s images are in permanent and private collections including the National Portrait Galleries of London and Canada, Bibliotheque Nationale de France and the Smithsonian. His images have been part of major collaborative exhibitions worldwide. His images have won the Arte Laguna Prize 2013 and Grand Prix de la Decouverte 2013 and received the gold award at Prix de la Photographie in 2011,
