Workplace Violence Project

1. Workplace Violence Project • Collaboration between Norwegian Nurses Organisation, International Council of Nurses, SANNAM and five participating countries: • Mauritius • Botswana • Swaziland • Lesotho • Zanzibar.

2. Rationale • Workplace violence serious threat to: • health care workers • patients • relatives • provision of quality care • HIV/AIDS pandemic: • increased burden on health care system • increasing work loads • more complex disease symptoms • continuing “brain drain”.

3. Norway Recent survey among Norwegian nurses: • Have you experienced violence from patients at work? • 30% yes • Have you felt threatened by patients at work? • 46% yes • Have you been afraid to go to work? • 13% yes.

4. ICN • ICN develops/provides training manuals • Dr. Mirielle Kingma • Workshop facilitator.

5. Objectives • Provide nurses and midwives with knowledge and understanding of workplace-related abuse, sexual harassment and violence • Empower nurses and midwives to more effectively cope with violence • Establish sustainable policies, procedures and services at health care institutions to cope with and reduce incidents of violence.

6. Project Structure • Funding from NNO/Norad • Coordinated by SANNAM • Professional content by ICN • Five participating countries • Five 3-day launch workshops in 2006 • Mauritius & Botswana • Five follow-up workshops in 2007 • Swaziland & Lesotho • Final gathering in 2008 • Zanzibar.

7. Structure at National Level • 1 National Resource Person • 10 participating institutions (district) • 3 nurses from each institution (district) • Networks between NRP, participating institutions and NNA.

8. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 NRP NRP NRP NRP NRP 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 NNO ICN Botswana Zanzibar SANNAM Lesotho Mauritius Swaziland

9. Mauritius • Launch workshop held, facilitated by ICN and NNO • Feedback sessions held in all regions with all stakeholders, including doctors and management • “Remarkable collaborative response” • Posters printed and posted to sensitize health care workers and the public • Developing a pamphlet to sensitize patients and visitors.

10. Botswana • Launch workshop held, facilitated by ICN and NNO • Participating regions identified • Activity proposals collected • Follow-up meeting in Gabarone in Oct. to develop posters/policy • NNA releasing newsletter next month, with article highlighting the workplace violence project.

11. Lesotho • Launch workshop held, facilitated by NRP • Participating institutions identified and visited • Mohlomi National mental hospital - very positive response: • Feedback meeting with all staff members • Six 1-day awareness workshops sponsored by hospital management for all staff • Transport for staff leaving the hospital late in the evening • Safety guidelines developed • Staff who have lost property through violence encouraged to claim • St Joseph Hospital: • feedback session with nurses • plans for awareness campaigns.

12. Swaziland • Launch workshop held, facilitated by NRP • Participating institutions selected – plans being made • 40% of health workers sensitized • National Anti-workplace Violence Committee established • June and July worst months in relation to violence • 5 institutions attacked by robbers who assaulted, robbed and kidnapped some nurses • Violence triggered talks, negotiations and recommended activity: • clearing trees around institutions • erecting lamp posts • strong fencing • alarm systems • Discussions between Prime minister and nurses association.

13. Zanzibar • Launch workshop held, facilitated by NRP • Participating institutions identified • Initial activities carried out • Will participate in Norwegian CSO evaluation, Oct. 06.

14. Budget 2006 • 5 national workshops USD 50.000 • National activities USD 24.000 • ICN/NNO facilitation USD 18.000 • Total USD 92.000

15. Thank you! Michael Vitols: mvitols@sykepleierforbundet.no Mob. phone: +47 9943 5660