eMagazine June 2023

OUR PEOPLE,
OUR MISSION
Global Health
eMagazine
June 2023
Perspective
Global Health Academy
Highlights
Reflections
Welcome
Global Local
Hispanic and Latinx Communities
Voices of Ugandan Students
Global Health Mental Health
Art to Rwmind Us of Who We Can Be
Our Beautiful Planet
Innovation and Technology
Nursing Division
Article of the Month
Addressing the issue of a depleting health workforce in subSaharan
Africa
Lancet, May 20, 2023
Naomi Chinyere Chikezie, Deborah Oluwaseun Shomuyiwa, Ebere Angela Okoli, Ifebuche Maureen Onah,
Oluwaseun Omolade Adekoya, *Greatman Adiela Owhor, Adeniyi Ayinde Abdulwahab
Health-care workers have a crucial role in improving health outcomes, and their migration
has harmed the quality of health services in sub-Saharan Africa. The region has 25% of global
diseases,1 and only 3% of health workers globally, highlighting a severe shortage of skilled
professionals to tackle high rates of mortality. The main reasons for migration are poor working
conditions, low remuneration, and a scarcity of career development opportunities. Insecurity
and high crime rates also contribute to migration in countries such as South Africa.1, 2
A study done in South Africa showed that the main reasons health professionals migrated were
corruption, personal and family safety, poor infrastructure, and their children’s future.3 To address
this issue, the retention of health-care workers should be prioritised in the national planning
process. Incentive packages, better work environments, team training, and opportunities for
career advancement can improve job satisfaction and develop positive work attitudes.
Harnessing technology can also benefit health-care systems by facilitating patient education,
providing seamless access to medical records, and reducing the workload of health-care
professionals.4 Improving community health workers’ programmes will help to enhance service
delivery.5 Creating a balance of duties so that professionals’ activities match their qualifications
can improve working conditions in health systems.
A global survey from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that
79% of nurses and 76% of doctors were carrying out processes for which they were overqualified.6
Restructuring service delivery processes to minimise tasks and optimise disease management
and service delivery is integral to addressing this issue. The mobilisation of preventive healthcare
approaches in health systems can also work in the long term to reduce the workload of
health-care professionals, reduce emergency rates, and prevent complications.
Overall, the depletion of the health workforce in sub-Saharan Africa is a crucial issue. Retention
of health-care workers depends on the creation of supportive environments that enhance
service delivery, work culture, and systems to improve population health outcomes. Improving
the health delivery landscape in sub-Saharan Africa is essential to retain the health workforce
and reduce migration. Policy development is required to promote retention, provide technology
to optimise service delivery, improve work packages, and revamp health care; ultimately,
enhancing preventive care can stall the depletion of the health workforce and improve the
quality of care.
Women’s Health Education
Among the Letters
Addressing the issue of depleting health workforce in Sub Saharan Africa
Announcements
Article of the Month
Video of the Month
Congratulations
Phoro News
Calendar of Events
Resources
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