Page 51 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

She currently manages an HIV/AIDS project for nurses and midwives that was established in 2002

in response to growing concern around the epidemic within the profession.

The project, located at the Zambian Nurses Association offices and jointly funded by the

Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Norwegian Nurses Association,
aims to give nurses and midwives essential information on HIV/AIDS, develop their skills in clinical

management and prevention of the spread of HIV, challenge stigma by encouraging nurses to be

tested for the infection, and gives support to nurses and midwives who have HIV and AIDS.

Prior to the project being set up, a ZNA survey showed that knowledge of the virus among health
workers was limited.

The survey also revealed that there was a general feeling of being worn down by a chronic lack of

resources.

Part of the project’s aim is to engage nurses in the process of education and training.

Olive Nandu commented:

“The challenges we face are so enormous, and Africa’s resources are very few; if you wait to get

what you need, you will wait forever.

We feel it’s best to sit down among ourselves and say, “Friends, how can we best solve this

problem”?

Nurses and midwives can play a key role in promoting good infant feeding practices in the context

of HIV/AIDS (as well as more widely within society).

Breastfeeding has long been recommended as the best source of nourishment for the child.

However, the transmissibility of HIV to the infant via breast milk has posed problems to those

advising on safe feeding practices.

48 Academic Year 2025/2026