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Africa in dire need of healthcare workers

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, April 14, 2006

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According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual report, at least 1.3 billion people-that's more than one sixth of the world's population-lack access to the most basic healthcare. A major contributor to this factor, the reports states, is the global shortage of healthcare workers.

The report, which was released last week to coincide with World Health Day (April 7), noted that shortages are most severe in sub-Saharan Africa, an area which holds 11% of the world's population and 24% of the global burden of disease-but only 3% of the world's health workers.

According to WHO Assistant Director-General Timothy Evans, the crisis is worsening due to lack of recruitment and training, as well as the growing demand for healthcare workers in developed countries, such as the U.S.

To address the problem, the WHO says the 57 countries with the most serious shortages must increase healthcare spending by $10 per person, per year, by 2025.

Source: The World Health Organization

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