Caring for caregivers: An HIV/AIDS workplace intervention for hospital staff in Zambia—Evaluation results

The Horizons Program collaborated on a Caring for Caregivers initiative in Zambia whose objective was to develop and test a risk-reduction workplace program for hospital staff. This was motivated by the recognition that hospital workers are often overlooked in HIV programming, and yet many are infected or affected by HIV. It was also motivated by the fact that hospital staff are heterogeneous, with both clinical and non-clinical staff having varying levels of understanding regarding HIV transmission. Caring for Caregivers was a peer education program targeted at hospital staff and implemented in two hospitals in Zambia, with a combined staff of about 1,700 employees. Although it encountered severe challenges, it was generally well-received and demonstrated some positive outcomes. HIV prevention, treatment, and care strategies should involve healthcare workers not just as a means to reach the community, but as direct and priority beneficiaries as well