Realizing nurses' full potential.

Abstract

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sheila Tlou joined the HIV response from the outset of the epidemic in her native Botswana in 1985 and has also worked internationally to raise awareness of HIV. She is the director of the UNAIDS regional support team for eastern and southern Africa. Since 1999, she has been associate professor of nursing at the University of Botswana, where she has taught since 1980. From 1998 to 2001, she was the director of the WHO collaborating centre for nursing and midwifery development in primary health care for anglophone Africa. From 2004 to 2008, she was the health minister of Botswana. Tlou obtained her PhD Nursing Sciences and post-graduate certificates women's health and gender studies from the University of Illinois, Chicago, the United States of America; a bachelor of nursing degree at Dillard University, New Orleans in 1974; and two master's degrees in nursing. Tlou has received several national and international awards, including the 2002 Botswana Presidential Order of Honour. Q: What drew you to public health? A: Originally I wanted to study languages, do drama and end up in Hollywood. But when I was interviewed by the Ministry of Education for a scholarship, I was told: In Botswana we don't eat languages, we are a developing country. We need doctors and nurses and the only scholarship available is in the health sciences. I was so disappointed. They gave me three study options: in Uganda, Zambia or Ethiopia for public health, which I chose only because of the handsome guys on the brochure. However, a scholarship to study nursing in [the United States of] America came up and I ended up in New Orleans. Q: How did you get involved in the HIV response in Botswana in the early days? A: I started teaching at the university of Botswana in 1980, and my interest was in womens health, so I became involved in gender activism and women's health issues, specifically ageing, and my subsequent doctoral dissertation was on menopause. At a regional women's health meeting in Uganda in 1984, I met Noerine Kaleeba, a Ugandan physiotherapist, who told us about the discrimination she faced in her country after her husband was diagnosed with HIV [human immunodeficiency virus]. Noerine was one of the first people to fight discrimination faced by people living with HIV. When the first case of AIDS [acquired immunodeficiency syndrome] was found in Botswana, and people started to become infected with HIV, I was determined to be part of stopping the discrimination. HIV is mainly transmitted by sex--something done by everyone--so I had a strong conviction that there should be no stigma or discrimination. I thought that within 10 years the epidemic would be over and I would go back to working on ageing and menopause. Q: Countries are pledging to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, as one of the targets of the new Sustainable Development Coals to be adopted by countries at the United Nations General Assembly this month. Is this a realistic target? A: It is a realistic target. Our confidence is based on success in achieving previous targets. For example, the target of providing 15 million people with life-saving treatment was reached in March this year, nine months ahead of the deadline. As part of our fast-track strategy, UNAIDS and our partners aim to end HIV infection as a public threat by achieving the 90-90-90 targets to keep people alive, reduce new infections. and ensure zero discrimination. The targets are that 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% of them are on treatment and 90% have viral suppression. Q: What are the particular risks to women's health and how did you raise greater awareness of this? A: Women are more vulnerable to HIV infection due to gender inequality in our societies. I met with several African women involved in the AIDS response at the International AIDS conference in Stockholm in 1988. We formed the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa and set up national chapters in our countries. …