South African Colleagues Visit NHS
This fall, two South African visitors have traveled to Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies for a three-week stay. Zanele Penelope Mlaba, a tutor at St. Mary’s Hospital College of Nursing in Mariannhill, Durban, and Zukiswa Benedictor Khumalo, a nurse practitioner at St. Mary’s Hospital, came to campus as part of “Nurses SOAR!,” a federally funded program to build HIV/AIDS nursing workforce in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Kevin Mallinson, assistant professor of nursing at NHS, serves as principal investigator for “Nurses SOAR!” and is hosting the visitors. Since 2006, Mallinson; Amanda Liddle, assistant professor of nursing and project director; Michael Relf, chair of the Department of Nursing; Irene Jillson, assistant professor of nursing and project evaluator; and NHS faculty and students have participated in the grant. The two South African nurses came to learn about HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care services in the United States. They are attending clinical services at Georgetown University Hospital, the Inova Health System, and the Whitman-Walker Clinic. In addition, they will engage in learning exercises to build their skills in teaching, mentorship, and nursing leadership to be better able to address the needs of individuals at-risk for, or infected with, HIV/AIDS in South Africa. They are also attending the American Public Health Association’s annual conference in Washington D.C. and the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) annual conference in Orlando, Fla. At the ANAC conference, Mlaba will present with three recent Georgetown nursing graduates on their collaborative research project examining “Ethical Issues and HIV/AIDS.” “Nurses SOAR!” has received more than $2 million in federal grant funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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