10th Annual Meeting of the European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA), St Petersburg, Russian Federation, 2006

By highlighting innovative and practical approaches, nurses and midwives can influence the culture of stigma attached to HIV through education and communication. Only by ensuring that they have a sound knowledge of sexual health, including HIV/AIDS, and the various modes of transmission and methods of preventing infection, will nurses and midwives act as agents of change to reverse the ravages of this disease. The work of the meeting highlighted the need for action, and the participants, from 33 participating countries, agreed on a final statement on nursing and midwifery in HIV/AIDS client care.