Healthcare Programs

HIV/AIDS
For over a decade, CMMB has been a leader among faith-based organizations in the field of HIV/AIDS care, treatment, and support.  Through our work with the AIDSRelief consortium, we provided life-saving antiretroviral treatment to nearly 47,000 Kenyans in 2010, and ensured continuity of care for the HIV-affected pediatric population in Haiti.  This year in Kenya, South Sudan, and Haiti, CMMB’s mentors helped more than 24,000 people living with HIV adhere to their medical treatment and combat stigma within their families and communities.

CMMB strives to provide innovative programs to prevent HIV infection across all age groups and genders.  We significantly reduced pediatric HIV infections in 2010 by providing HIV testing and PMTCT services to nearly 60,000 women in Haiti, Kenya, and South Sudan.  We seek to engage men in the promotion of healthy behaviors, such as reducing their number of sexual partners, living positively, and participating in their family’s healthcare.  Bolstered by strong support from the Ministries of Health in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, CMMB trained medical professionals to perform more than 15,000 safe male circumcisions, which have been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Maternal and Child Health
CMMB embraces the research that demonstrates that women are the key to sustaining healthy families and achieving positive health outcomes.  We work with local partners to provide a woman and girl-centered approach to health, with men as key supporters and advocates.  Our primary healthcare programs provide families with services such as health education for expectant mothers and provision of oral rehydration solution and vitamin A serum.  In 2010, community health workers made more than 18,000 home visits to families participating in these programs.  In South Africa, we addressed food insecurity among orphans and vulnerable children by providing meals and after-school care to 300 children.  CMMB’s malaria prevention programs promote insecticide-treated nets, train healthcare workers, and supply medicines to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria, especially in pregnant women and young children.  This year, CMMB provided anti-malarial medication to nearly 7,000 expectant mothers to reduce the risk of a complicated pregnancy and low birth-weight and anemia in the child.

Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Country-Specific Priorities
CMMB’s founder, Dr. Paluel Flagg, traveled to Haiti in 1912 to serve communities that were suffering from leprosy.  That visit marked the beginning of the organization and has been part of CMMB’s ongoing commitment to the treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases.  Since 2008, CMMB has been working in high-prevalence leprosy areas in India and Zambia, strengthening the capacity of local health facilities to diagnose, treat, and care for leprosy patients.  In 2010, CMMB assisted in the training of nearly 500 community health workers and healthcare professionals.

In Haiti, CMMB has resumed pre-earthquake initiatives and introduced new programs aimed at the long-term recovery of Haitians affected by the disaster.  An important new area of focus for CMMB is physical rehabilitation for amputees.  CMMB is a founding member of the Haitian Amputee Coalition, which has helped more than 600 people who have lost their limbs to receive prostheses and physical therapy, renewing their hope for a better life.  CMMB has also been working to reduce the impact of the cholera epidemic by providing oral rehydration solution and antibiotics to support our programs and training community health workers expressly to work on cholera prevention and treatment.