We believe that when women’s voices are heard, they can transform a community. Agnes’ story shows us how:

Agnes is a mom in Zambia who went into denial after testing positive for HIV. Fearing stigma and shame when she received her results she recalls, “I vehemently refused that the positive result was mine.” She stopped attending antenatal care at the CMMB clinic and delivered her baby at home. Agnes only returned to the CMMB clinic when her baby was a few months old.

Agnes final L

Agnes feels tremendous guilt knowing that if she had faced her positive HIV status and participated in the PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) program, she could have guaranteed a healthier life for her son.

Agnes knows now that it takes courage to accept the choices she made. She has faith that by sharing her story, she can help educate other women to make better decisions for healthier lives.

“My greatest regret in life is having dropped out of school in grade nine, to get married. If only I knew better. My advice to young girls is to stay in school. Let education determine the person you want to be.”

Every year, in most of the developing world, 1 in 3 girls are married before the age of 18. As a result, these girls are “robbed of their rights to safety and security, to health, to education, and to making their own choices and decisions for their lives” (ICRW and World Bank). CMMB is educating mothers to use their voices to empower their daughters to stay in school.