Africa
Placing health workers at the heart of health services delivery in Africa
Human resources for health in Africa: the need for better planning and better training
Authors:
; WHO Africa Regional Office
Publisher:
Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organisation , 2002
This brochure, published by the WHO Africa Regional Office, aims to raise awareness of human resources for health in Africa. It argues that health workers are central to making the best possible use of other resources and investments in the health sector, yet their importance has not been widely recognised. Declining staff salaries have contributed to a brain drain from the public to the private sector and from developing to more developed countries, and few countries have made systematic efforts to ensure that health professionals return home after training abroad. Training in Africa has tended to mimic developed countries, producing highly trained, expensive, elite and hospital-focused professionals.
The brochure argues that, within departments responsible for health workers, more emphasis is needed on strategic planning rather than routine personnel administration. The roles of experts and officials working in human resources for health should be enriched so that they can exert more influence on policy and strategy. The capacity of local training institutions also needs to be improved, and training should be geared towards local conditions. Improvements in salaries, benefits, infrastructure and equipment would all help to improve staff motivation. International partners can support African governments by financing African-based training programmes; research and lobbying initiatives; and assisting country regulatory authorities.
