ExxonMobil Observes World AIDS Day with Donation to Local Program

• mothers2mothers to receive 50 kits to improve mentors’ ability to engage HIV-positive girls
• Fifteen ExxonMobil employees joined in the distribution, valued at over US$10,000

The donation was to mothers2mothers, a Maputo-based non-profit organization that identifies HIV-positive mothers to mentor HIV-positive girls who are breastfeeding or pregnant to assist them and their children to live healthier lives. Typically, mentor mothers travel to various locations on foot, and are often limited by weather conditions, including rain. The kits include raincoats, backpacks, boots, hats and shirts to improve their ability to assist HIV-positive girls.

“Supporting mothers2mothers supports our goal to empower women, providing tools to improve their quality of life,” said Jos Evens, general manager for ExxonMobil Moçambique, Limitada. “HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue in Mozambique and we intend to be part of the solution to help the most vulnerable in our community.”

Fifteen ExxonMobil employees joined the kit distribution on Nov. 29. Nearly half of the kits were distributed to a Matola-based health clinic, with the remainder sent for distribution to two health clinics in Pemba. The donation is valued at over $10,000. Since 2017, ExxonMobil has contributed over $500,000 to HIV/AIDS-related causes in Mozambique.

“We are grateful for the support from ExxonMobil,” said Ilda Kaluba, county director of mothers2mothers, “It is important that the girls learn from older mothers who are leading healthier lives for both them and their children.”

World AIDS Day 2019 is recognized on Dec. 1, and is led by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which unites the efforts of 11 United Nations organizations to address the AIDS epidemic. The theme for 2019 is, “Communities make the difference,” highlighting the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the international, national and local levels.