Mildmay at NHIVNA 2025: Leading the Way in HIV Care

Olfa, Angelina and Tsedey at NHIVNA 2025

Mildmay Hospital is at the 27th Annual Conference of the National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA 2025), held in Leeds from June 11th to 13th.

This important event brings together HIV nurses and healthcare professionals from across the UK to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and advance best practice in HIV care.

We are especially pleased to celebrate the contributions of our dedicated team members, Senior Staff Nurse Tsedey Alemayehu and Staff Nurse Olfa Sibanda, whose involvement reflects Mildmay’s deep commitment to professional development and delivering expert, person-centred care.

Also in attendance is Angelina Namiba, NHIVNA Patron, a longstanding Mildmay volunteer, and a respected leader in the HIV community. A former Mildmay patient, Angelina continues to advocate for the voices of people living with HIV through her roles as a Trustee at National AIDS Trust, SAFE Kenya, and Salamander Trust, and as Co-Chair of the Share East London Community Advisory Board. Her presence at NHIVNA is a powerful reminder of the role lived experience plays in shaping compassionate, effective care.

Spotlight on Olfa Sibanda's Presentation: A Multidisciplinary Approach to PML

Olfa's presentation explored the complexity of managing Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and serious brain infection caused by the reactivation of the JC virus (named after the initials of the patient in whom it was first discovered) in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those living with advanced HIV. The virus targets the brain’s white matter, leading to a decline in neurological function and symptoms such as clumsiness, weakness, speech or vision difficulties, and personality changes.

The term “multifocal” refers to the involvement of multiple areas of the brain, while “progressive” reflects the disease’s tendency to worsen over time.

Olfa’s presentation illustrated the vital role of multidisciplinary collaboration in diagnosing, treating, and supporting individuals with PML. Drawing on Mildmay’s own team-based approach, her case study emphasised how coordinated care - combining medical, nursing, therapeutic and psychosocial support - can lead to improved outcomes, even in the most complex and challenging cases.

Congratulations to Tsedey, Olfa, and Angelina on their contributions to NHIVNA 2025. We thank them for representing Mildmay with passion, professionalism, and insight. Their work continues to shape and strengthen the future of HIV care.