Health Dilemma

Healthcare shortage has created global competition for professionals such as Nurses, Physician Assistants, Physicians, and Dentist. This competition has created circumstances where the World Health Organization projects 18 million professional shortage by 2030 pre-pandemic. Africa is the most vulnerable regions with 36 of its 57 countries in dire need of health workers according to Forbes.

Africa continent has suffered from under-resourced health care for several generations. At the recent 35th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union Summit, an established the African Union Health Workforce Task Team. This will be a unique healthcare effort for the continent of Africa, mobilizing billions of dollars and aligning efforts to prioritize health and health systems - a necessity for health security and economic growth and recovery, the need for which has only accelerated by COVID.

Leveraging existing institutions within the African Union, Africa can shape a centralized framework — a social compact for countries, donors, stakeholders — to train and retain Africa’s human resources for health. The African Union Helath Workforce Task Team can set an agenda and targets for progress in health workforce development.

The specific tasks includes ambitious resource needs for the continent, including skilled health professionals, community health workers, public health specialists, manufacturing capacity, administration, and management. The framework can be inclusive not only of the deeply needed clinicians and direct care givers but ensure the training of other leadership in public health, science, technology, drug and vaccine development, management and civil service to sustain and guide these systems. A fit for purpose workforce Africa deserves.

Credit: www.forbes.com

Abdi