Ep 135: A public health miracle: preventing HIV transmission from mother to child. With Dr Mitch Besser, founder of Mothers 2 Mothers.

Ask Dr Jessica

Are you ready to feel inspired?!? Episode 135 of Ask Dr Jessica with founder of Mother's to Mother's Dr Mitch Besser. Dr. Mitch Besser discusses his journey from being an OBGYN in the United States to creating the Mothers to Mothers (m2m) program in South Africa, which aims to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV . In this episode Dr Besser explains how m2m persevered despite funding and cultural challenges. Since beginning in 2001, m2m has achieved remarkable success in reducing transmission rates and improving the lives of mothers and their children. It has created nearly 12,000 jobs for women living with HIV, and reached more than 15 million people with critical health services in sub-Saharan Africa. Currrent enrolled m2m clients now have a 0.5% mother-to-child HIV transmission rate.

Dr Mitch Besser has dedicated his career to the public health needs of women. After graduating from Harvard Medical school, in 1999, he joined the University of Cape Town, assisting with the development of services for pregnant women living with HIV to prevent mother-to child transmission of HIV. It was through that work that he recognized a need for further support to help improve medical and social outcomes of HIV in the South African community, and he then founded m2m. Dr Besser has received many awards including the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the US Presidential Citizen's award.

Dr Jessica Hochman is a board certified pediatrician, mom to three children, and she is very passionate about the health and well being of children. Most of her educational videos are targeted towards general pediatric topics and presented in an easy to understand manner.
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The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only. She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals. If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.