Protecting Motherhood in the Most Vulnerable Places

On Mother’s Day, CMMB honors mothers and mother figures around the world. Yet while motherhood is universal, access to safe, supportive care is not. We believe that women who nurture our future deserve to live in communities that foster their well-being.

CMMB is keeping women safe in some of the world’s most vulnerable places by expanding access to medicines, healthcare, and clean water. Today, we share stories of five mothers in Peru, Kenya, Zambia, South Sudan, and Haiti, whose love and steadfast determination show us just what a mother’s strength truly looks like. With your support, we are walking with them toward a healthier future.

In Peru: Caring for Children with Disabilities and Their Families

Every mother watches eagerly for her child to reach milestones and gain independence. But Sabina, a mother in Trujillo, Peru, felt shattered as she watched how her son, Liam, struggled.

“When my little boy got sick, it felt like the world no longer existed for me,” she shared.

Yet Sabina was determined to see her son thrive. She enrolled Liam in CMMB’s Rehabilitation with Hope, our community-based program that brings quality therapies to children with physical and cognitive challenges. Today, Liam is an active toddler, able to move around, feed himself, and play with toys.

For Sabina, CMMB’s compassion saved her, too.

“I have recovered and am moving forward with my little boy, thanks to their support,” she said.

In Kenya: Providing Mothers with Sustainable Livelihood Support

For years, the light was missing from Elizabeth’s life. Four of her six children lost their sight as toddlers. As they grew older, Elizabeth remained their constant caregiver, helping them with every task. Barely able to leave the house, let alone work, Elizabeth sustained her family on one meal a day. Only darkness loomed ahead.

Then, everything changed. CMMB’s Sustainable Livelihood Project serves families in Kitui County, where Elizabeth lives. The CMMB team enrolled her family in our unconditional cash transfer program and provided Elizabeth with training to establish a sustainable income. Most importantly, we connected Elizabeth’s children to an ophthalmologist who discovered they had treatable cataracts. CMMB facilitated their travel for surgery. As her children’s vision returned, so did Elizabeth’s hope for the future.

“Now that they can see, I will be able to do my household duties and even take up casual jobs,” she said. “They will also be able to go back to school.”

In Zambia: Expanding Access to Clean Water

In Loanja Siasabuzingu, finding clean, safe water was a daily challenge. The village had an old borehole, or deep well, but it broke down frequently, forcing families to drink from a nearby shallow well and risk illness. CMMB constructed and mechanized a borehole, bringing reliable water to the community for the first time.

The new water source spurred Manga, 55 and a mother of four, into action. She started a garden, a nearly impossible pursuit until now. She makes an income for her family by selling fresh, organic vegetables in her village and in nearby communities.

“This garden is not only for me. It is feeding many families around here,” she said.

In Haiti: Delivering Lifesaving Prenatal Care

Venite, 26, of Côtes-de-Fer, was relieved her first pregnancy was proceeding normally. But during a routine prenatal home visit, a CMMB-supported community health worker noticed abnormal leg swelling. Concerned this could mean a dangerous pregnancy complication called pre-eclampsia, the community health worker quickly referred Venite to specialized care.

Venite was hospitalized for two months, then gave birth to a baby girl through a cesarean section. Her daughter needed extra support and stayed in the hospital for another month. Now they are back home together, and Venite is grateful that care was close by when she needed it.

“Without the intervention of the [community health worker], I would not have experienced such a positive outcome,” she said.

In South Sudan: Saving Mothers and Newborns

Atim lives in South Sudan, where mothers and their newborns die at higher rates than nearly anywhere else. After she felt sharp pain in her abdomen, her local health facility sent her to St. Theresa Mission Hospital in Nzara. Atim needed an emergency cesarean, and her baby required extra care. Fortunately, St. Theresa was well-equipped to save their lives, thanks to ultrasound machines, surgical equipment, and neonatal incubators provided by CMMB.

“I’m so grateful for the support CMMB is providing to mothers and our babies,” Atim said. “I know my child is going to be okay.”

We Honor Mothers by Caring for Them

On Mother’s Day and beyond, CMMB is proud to support mothers and mother figures around the world. We witness, time and time again, how a mother’s love can sustain her family and her community—even in the most difficult circumstances. Hope and survival become possible because of her unwavering devotion. CMMB will continue listening to women’s needs so that we can jointly build systems that better their lives for years to come.