Geneva, Switzerland; 15 December 2015 – The outstanding work of Phetsile Mamba, Director of the International Council of Nurses’ (ICN) Wellness Centre for Health Care Workers in Manzini, Swaziland, has been recognised globally by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care’s Excellence in Global HIV Nursing Award. Ms Mamba is a founding member of the staff at the innovative and highly successful ICN-Swaziland Wellness Centre for Health Care Workers.
The Centre was established in 2006, in partnership with the Swaziland Nurses Association, the Danish Nurses Organisation, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, BD Corporation and the Swaziland Ministry of Health.
The ANAC award recognises an outstanding nurse, living and working on a resource-limited setting, who has significantly impacted his/her community or olleagues by promoting excellence in HIV nursing care and/or prevention and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation.
“The Southern foot of Africa is greatly affected by HIV,” Phetsile said in her acceptance speech. “We nurses are doing all we can to fight against this disease and its impact.”
“The work Phetsile and her colleagues have accomplished in such challenging conditions is truly outstanding, said Pierre Théraulaz, ICN’s Acting Chief Executive Officer. “We are delighted that her accomplishments have been recognised with this award.” A short video featuring Phetsile Mamba and providing background to the work of the ICN Wellness Centre for Health Care Workers in Swaziland is available here.
“Phetsile embodies the spirit of ANAC’s Excellence in Global HIV Nursing Award,” commented Kimberly Carbaugh, ANAC’s Executive Director. “ANAC is proud to honor Phetsile for her incredible work and dedication to achieve the highest level of HIV nursing practice and care. She is an outstanding nurse leader.”
Grete Christensen, President of the Danish Nurses Orgnisation, said ”The Danish Nurses Organisation has worked with Phetsile Mamba and the Swaziland Wellness Centre for Health Care Workers for almost a decade. The dedication and outstanding work of Phetsile has led the admirable work of the Swaziland Wellness Centre in raising the standard and level of professionalism in AIDS and HIV prevention and treatment.”
The ICN Wellness Centre for Health Care Workers programme aims to strengthen health systems through the provision of quality comprehensive health services for all cadres of healthcare workers and their immediate families. Since the first Wellness Centre was established in Swaziland in 2006, Wellness Centres, managed by nurses and supported by inter-sectoral partnerships, have been established in the following countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia. The Wellness Centres play a vital role in addressing the shortage of essential healthcare and ultimately allow the rest of the population to receive proper healthcare services.
Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate at 26%. This has had a significant impact on healthcare workers who are overstressed and undervalued. To address this situation, ICN, the Swaziland Nurses Association and the Danish Nurses Organisation in partnership with BD have established the ICN Wellness Centre for Health Care Workers and their families. It aims to address the severe healthcare crisis in Swaziland through attention to the health, well-being and capacity of the health workforce. It also includes a crucial HIV testing programme and provides stress management, professional development and counselling services. The Swaziland Centre launched a TB and MDR-TB training programme for nurses, and also provides HIV and TB training for support workers, including kitchen, maintenance and cleaning personnel. Swaziland also started hepatitis B immunizations for healthcare workers and has been conducting public education programming via radio broadcasts.
Note for Editors
About ICN
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.
About ANAC
The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) represents more than 2,000 nurses, nurse practitioners, and other health care providers worldwide. ANAC is the leading professional HIV nursing association educating, connecting and advocating for nurses concerned about HIV and HIV-related care. ANAC promotes a comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based approach to quality HIV care, and advocates for policies grounded in a human rights approach to health. www.nursesinaidscare.org
For further information contact Lindsey Williamson at:
Tel: +41 22 908 0100; Fax: +41 22 908 0101, www.icn.ch
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