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HIV nurses share knowledge at workshop in Morocco

31 January 2013

Jane Bruton, HIV Nurse Consultant, and Zoe Sheppard, Advanced HIV Nurse Practitioner, at Chelsea and Westminster ran a very successful one-day workshop on nurse management of HIV with a group of 13 Moroccan nurses in Marrakech.

Photo: Participants at the HIV nurses workshop in Marrakech

Jane Bruton, HIV Nurse Consultant, and Zoe Sheppard, Advanced HIV Nurse Practitioner, at Chelsea and Westminster ran a very successful one-day workshop on nurse management of HIV with a group of 13 Moroccan nurses in Marrakech.

The workshop was sponsored by JUSTRI, a small charitable organisation committed to sharing HIV knowledge and expertise with those working in HIV in the resource poor countries of the Middle East, North Africa and South Eastern Europe.

Jane Bruton says: “In Morocco only 7,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV leaving an estimated 26,000 unaware of their positive status. HIV in Morocco is deeply stigmatised which makes people very reluctant to test for fear of rejection by friends and family.”

The workshop covered all aspects of HIV care and treatment. The Moroccan nurses were eager to share their experiences as they have to manage very difficult situations every day and often face stigma themselves for working in HIV.

Jane adds: “Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the session was providing a safe space for the nurses to speak freely about the stresses and strains of working with very sick and frightened patients, whilst themselves receiving little support and supervision. Their appreciation of the workshop was overwhelming and heartfelt.”