Mahamat Mayo, the voice of hope: A man serving mothers and children in the fight against HIV

In the neighborhoods of Ngaoundéré, a man walks through the dusty alleys not to sell, nor to seek, but to save. His name: Mayo Mahamat, a psychosocial worker by profession, a father, and a tireless advocate for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. His fight is one of heart, of footsteps, of voice but also of personal history, shaped by the virus he has learned to battle from within.

For over 15 years, Mr. Mayo has been the cornerstone of the Circle of Women and Men in Solidarity, a grassroots association founded in 2002 to support people living with HIV (PLHIV). He is never confined to an office. Instead, he walks the neighborhoods, enters homes, accompanied by peer educators, to raise awareness, offer testing, reassure, and convince even the most hesitant to get tested. He reaches where formal systems often cannot.  “We go into the community, house by house. Those who refuse to go to the hospital we find them where they are,” he says with a gentle smile, as if describing a simple routine, though it is a daily act of courage.

His work took on new momentum with the arrival of the PETVISIDAME project, led by UNICEF and funded by the Government of Cameroon with support from the Islamic Development Bank. With this support, his association reached over 1,100 people, organized targeted testing campaigns, therapeutic education sessions, and support groups especially for HIV-positive pregnant women.  “Thanks to the support, we were able to organize therapeutic education days and support groups. It made a big difference,” he says, eyes bright with pride.

One story that stays with him is that of a young pregnant woman, diagnosed during a home visit. She was unaware of her status and even more so of the treatment that could protect her baby. Thanks to the association’s swift intervention, she was referred to a health center, started treatment, and was followed through childbirth. The result: a baby born HIV-negative.  “She told me that if I hadn’t come to her house, she would never have known. She didn’t even have the means to go to the hospital,” he recalls, eyes lowered, voice heavy with emotion.

But Mayo is more than a field worker he is a living example of resilience. Diagnosed in 2000 after years of denial, he faced illness, fear, and isolation. In 2006, he began treatment, regained his health, and married a woman also living with HIV. All their children were born HIV-free.  “Since 2006, I’ve been on treatment. I gained weight. All our children were born without HIV. That’s my pride,” he says, hand on his chest, eyes looking toward the future.

Today, Mayo is a pillar. He mentors, trains, supports, and testifies. He brings PLHIV together, breaks silences, and creates safe spaces where pain is shared, and hope is reborn.  “Today, I’ve become like a big reference for them. Even those who want to get married come to me. We build a family,” he says with a soft laugh, almost surprised by the recognition.

Thanks to PETVISIDAME, Mayo and his team have expanded their reach. They produce fortified porridge for babies exposed to HIV, conduct testing campaigns in remote areas, and provide personalized support to every beneficiary.  “We even make our own enriched porridge and distribute it in hospitals. It’s our way of helping even more,” he says.

But for Mayo, this is just the beginning. He dreams of going further beyond urban neighborhoods, into forgotten villages where HIV remains unknown or taboo.  “There are people in villages who don’t even know what HIV is. If we have the means, we’ll go find them and help them,” he declares.

Today, Mahamat Mayo is more than a psychosocial worker. He is a bearer of light against stigma, a builder of community change, and for many, the quiet yet essential hero in Cameroon’s fight against mother-to-child transmission of HIV. “If no one speaks like I do, if no one does what I do it would be a disaster,” he concludes, his voice calm and steady.

Mayo’s experience and that of the Circle of Women and Men in Solidarity demonstrate that community-based organisations (CBOs) are key players in HIV prevention, especially in areas where access to health facilities is limited. Thanks to their closeness to communities, deep understanding of local realities, and ability to build trust, they bridge the gap between hospitals and the most vulnerable families. By reaching out to pregnant women, creating support groups, providing home follow-up, and facilitating access to care, CBOs play an irreplaceable role in identifying, referring, and supporting people living with HIV, ensuring that their children have a chance to be born and grow up healthy.

The PETVISIDAME project is supported by the valuable Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), a $2.5 billion development initiative launched in 2016. Financed by an unprecedented global coalition, this fund includes the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). These organisations are committed to lifting the poorest out of poverty in 33 IsDB member countries by addressing nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through projects in health, agriculture and basic infrastructure. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to these partners for their invaluable support.