International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) Launch Multinational Nurse Capacity-Building Initiative

As part of its ongoing support for strengthened HIV programs and health systems generally, the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Program (ICAP) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health is launching a nurse capacity-building initiative in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The program is supported by a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Healthcare systems throughout Africa suffer from shortages of trained providers, including nurses. The HIV epidemic has further strained these already fragile systems by adding new responsibilities and increasing workload. This has led some nurses to leave the healthcare profession entirely, further aggravating the problem.

The ICAP Nurse Capacity Initiative will focus on improving nurse training and mentorship in comprehensive HIV services, and on bolstering the nursing workforce through policy advocacy and efforts to enhance nurse retention. The initiative will support nurses and nursing institutions in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Swaziland.

“Programs will be shaped based on locally identified needs, in collaboration with local nursing schools and associations, governments, and other stakeholders,” explained Robin Flam, MD, assistant professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School, assistant clinical professor of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and director of ICAP’s Clinical Unit. “A multi-national network of stakeholders will also be mobilized to serve as advocates on nursing-related issues and promote sharing of best practices.”

ICAP’s Nurse Capacity Initiative is supported by HRSA, the University of Fort Hare Department of Nursing Sciences in South Africa, the Columbia University School of Nursing, and the International Council of Nursing.

About ICAP

ICAP is a global leader in supporting the scale-up of multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs based on a family-focused approach. Currently, ICAP supports 791 sites in 14 resource-limited countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, which provide HIV services to more than 670,000 people, including antiretroviral treatment to more than 327,000 individuals. In addition, ICAP-supported sites have provided HIV counseling and testing services to more than 516,000 pregnant women. For more information, visit the ICAP website at www.columbia-icap.org.

About the Mailman School of Public Health
The only accredited school of public health in New York City and among the first in the nation, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the critical and complex public health issues affecting millions of people locally and globally. The Mailman School is the recipient of some of the largest government and private grants in Columbia University’s history. Its more than 1000 graduate students pursue master’s and doctoral degrees, and the School’s 300 multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues as infectious and chronic diseases, health promotion and disease prevention, environmental health, maternal and child health, health over the life course, health policy, and public health preparedness. www.mailman.columbia.edu