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Inspired by the successful deployment of a mobile van to bring medication to people living with HIV in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the first GAIA Elizabeth Taylor Mobile Health Clinic (MHC) was launched in Malawi in 2008 with seed funding from The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). GAIA began operating these Mobile Health Clinics in remote districts with the highest HIV prevalence to meet an urgent need: the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the country, and a large percentage of Malawi’s rural population lived too far from a health facility to receive testing or care. 15 years since program launch, with ETAF’s continued support along with new funding from granting organizations and individual donors, the mobile clinics have now reached 3 million client visits, a banner moment for the program and its reach. 

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A world where health outcomes are not determined by who you are or where you live. 

In pursuit of this vision, GAIA works in partnership with the government and communities to fill in gaps in Malawi’s evolving health system, meeting critical health needs through service provision and strengthening the health infrastructure to sustain gains for the long term. 

GAIA’s mobile health clinics have proven to be a highly efficient, cost-effective, and adaptable solution to providing health care in remote regions. In addition to integrated HIV/AIDS care, GAIA mobile clinics provide care for other acute and potentially life-threatening conditions, chronic conditions such as hypertension and epilepsy, critical sexual and reproductive health services, and health education. Today, each of our seven mobile clinics serve almost 200 patients daily, providing access to care for 1.2 million people.

Furthermore, the areas where GAIA works have experienced some of the highest rates of decline in HIV incidence (new infections), despite being the regions with the highest prevalence (percent of population living with HIV) and least access to government health facilities. GAIA’s mobile clinics are having an impact in the areas that need it most.

None of this would be possible without the support of our generous donors, partner organizations, and everyone in our GAIA U.S. and Malawi communities. Thank you for your support of GAIA over the years. 

Here’s to providing access to healthcare for our next 3 million clinic visits!