Human resources for health
The double burden of human resource and HIV crises: a case study of Malawi
The dual crises of human resource shortage and HIV in Malawi
Authors:
D McCoy; B McPake; V Mwapasa
Publisher:
Human Resources for Health, 2008
This paper published in Human Resources for Health examines the two crises that dominate the health sectors of sub-Saharan African countries: those of human resources and of HIV. The authors describe how there is considerable variation in the extent to which these two phenomena affect sub-Saharan countries, with the following countries facing extreme levels of both problems: Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, the Central African Republic and Malawi.
This paper reviews the continent-wide situation with respect to this double burden before considering the case of Malawi in more detail. In Malawi, there has been significant concurrent investment in both an Emergency Human Resource Programme and an antiretroviral therapy programme which was treating 60,000 people by the end of 2006. Both areas of synergy and conflict have arisen, as the two programmes have been implemented. The authors highlight important issues for programme planners and managers to address. They also emphasise that planning for the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy, while simultaneously strengthening health systems and human resources, requires prioritisation of support and time as well as resources.
