BMJ  2005;331:1037-1038 (5 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7524.1037

Editorial

Human resources for health in Africa

Better training and firm national policies might manage the brain drain

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

African countries have a very low density health workforce, compounded by poor skill mix and inadequate investment.¹ Yet trained healthcare staff continue to migrate from Africa to more developed countries. The World Health Organization has estimated that, to meet the ambitious targets of the millennium development goals, African health services will need to train and retain an extra one million health workers by 2010.²

It is too simplistic and misleading to define or try to resolve the crisis in human resources for health in Africa by looking only at overall numbers and density of workers, not least because these vary from country to country.^{3 4} Furthermore, the poor performance of health services in African countries is often compounded by shortages of drugs and other essential supplies, broken equipment, and poor logistical support. Africa needs balanced investment in human resources, infrastructure, drugs, logistics and other supportive services that will enhance the . . . [Full text of this article]

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02115, USA

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Health in Africa: International experience may provoke animosity towards those returning home

Andrew C Don-Wauchope
BMJ 2005 331: 1203. [Extract] [Full Text]

Health in Africa: There is more to the crisis

Albert M E Coleman
BMJ 2005 331: 1203-1204. [Extract] [Full Text]

Managing medical migration from poor countries

Omar B Ahmad
BMJ 2005 331: 43-45. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Courtright, P., Ndegwa, L., Msosa, J., Banzi, J. (2007). Use of Our Existing Eye Care Human Resources: Assessment of the Productivity of Cataract Surgeons Trained in Eastern Africa. Arch Ophthalmol 125: 684-687 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Don-Wauchope, A. C (2005). Health in Africa: International experience may provoke animosity towards those returning home. BMJ 331: 1203-1203 [Full text]  
• Coleman, A. M E (2005). Health in Africa: There is more to the crisis. BMJ 331: 1203-1204 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Human Resource Management in Africa

Andrew C Don-Wauchope
bmj.com, 4 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Human resources for health in Africa: Is it national or international policies causing the brain drain?

Felix I D Konotey-Ahulu
bmj.com, 7 Nov 2005 [Full text]

There is more to the Africa human resources crisis.

Albert M. E. Coleman
bmj.com, 7 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Starving in the midst of plenty!!

Fatai Salawu
bmj.com, 7 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Human Resources for Health in Africa - An Economic Problem

Frank O Olaleye
bmj.com, 10 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Human Resources for Health in Africa – an incomplete picture.

Timothy J Hughes, et al.
bmj.com, 11 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Re: Human Resources for Health in Africa – an incomplete picture.

Frank O Olaleye
bmj.com, 12 Nov 2005 [Full text]

There is still hope for Africa!

Ezechi. C Nwosu
bmj.com, 6 Dec 2005 [Full text]

Trying to reverse the brain drain:a Ugandan solution

Julia F Dancy, et al.
bmj.com, 14 Dec 2005 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>