Dr Sheila Tlou, Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa

Dr Sheila Tlou, Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa

Dr Sheila Tlou is Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa. She joined UNAIDS on 1 October, 2010.

Dr Tlou, a committed advocate for effective AIDS responses in the region, brings to this position over 25 years of experience in public health programming for HIV prevention, treatment care and support.

Prior to joining UNAIDS, Dr Tlou held the post of Minister of Health for the Government of Botswana from 2004 to 2009, where she spearheaded the country’s highly effective AIDS programme.

Dr. Tlou was employed at the University of Botswana since 1980, and has held the post of Professor of Nursing at the University of Botswana since 1999.  At the same university, she also held the positions Head of Department and Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Primary Health Care from 1994 to 1998. 

Dr Tlou holds a Doctorate of Nursing Science, majoring in Public Health Nursing and Research.  She has a Master of Education, majoring in Curriculum and Instruction in the Health Sciences from Columbia University, as well as a Master of Science, majoring in Public Health Nursing and Psychology, from The Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. Dr Tlou is a national of Botswana.

Learn more about the AIDS response in Eastern and Southern Africa