Human Resources

A group of American researchers now suggest that the community in which one lives is as important as an individual's behavior in determining the risk of HIV infection. "The risk of individual behavior is enhanced or lessened by the type of place in which it takes place," said study lead author Dr. Shelah S. Bloom of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Bloom and her colleagues reported their findings in Sexually Transmitted Infections (2002;78:261-266). The researchers analyzed data from surveys conducted in a rural northern Tanzanian region with about 20,000 inhabitants between 1994 and 1997.

Produced by the WHO Transforming Health Systems is a training resource for health trainers to use with health managers, policy-makers and others with responsibilities in reproductive health. It offers a training curriculum designed to equip participants with the analytical tools and skills to integrate the promotion of gender equity and reproductive rights into their reproductive health policies, planning and programmes.

Hygiene education for women is a standard component of water supply projects. However, evaluations frequently reveal little change in hygiene and sanitation behaviour and so water-borne illnesses persist. Why is it so hard to convey water-related health messages? Researchers from UK University of Bradford tackle this issue in an assessment of Ghana’s Upper Region Water Supply Project (URWSP). They argue for a more rigorous analysis of the cultural and gender-related factors that influence women's acceptance and understanding of these messages.

Stella Zengwa, President of Zimbabwe Nurses Association.
Zimbabwean nurses face difficult decisions in their day-to-day work. Health Services are now client centred and are being provided by a workforce, which is performance driven. A shortage of nurses means that at present all our new nurse graduates are bonded for 3 years, but experienced nurses continue to be lost to neighbouring countries and abroad. Hospital wards are still run with only one or two nurse per shift for a 40-bedded ward with the result that nurses continue to be overworked. Lack of transport has become a critical issue and poses a risk to nurses’ lives when arriving or knocking off duty given the shift work. Lack of accommodation at institutions is making retention of nurses very difficult since in some areas, rented accommodation is not available. Nurses have been pushed out of the traditional nurse’s residences. Inadequate and erratic supplies of drugs, surgical sundries and equipment including protective clothing like gloves are exposing nurses to HIV infection. Burnout syndrome is widespread with nurses overwhelmed with the stress of nursing a full ward of very ill patients with so little support. Unlike other health workers who are visitors to the ward, nurses spend long hours with patients. This requires ways of dealing with burnout so that nurses continue to provide quality health care services.Upholding of nursing ethics is critical building a positive image as desired by the communities that we serve. As a professional association, ZINA aspires to ensure that the services nurses provide in support of public protection and health care are exemplary and community driven.