GOVERNMENTAL HUMAN RESOURCE POLICIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING IN AFRICA IN THE CONTEXT OF A GLOBAL CRISIS IN HEALTH CARE INEQUITY

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GOVERNMENTAL HUMAN RESOURCE POLICIES, CIVIL
SOCIETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING IN AFRICA IN
THE CONTEXT OF A GLOBAL CRISIS IN HEALTH CARE
INEQUITY
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INTRODUCTION

• Heavy disease burden
• Very high IMR
• Very high MMR
• Tens of millions suffer from
• Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS/STD

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CONDITIONS OF IMPROVED HEALTH

• A strong political commitment to improve health
• An intersectoral perspective in planning and
  operating systems of health care
• An appropriate organizational framework and
  managerial process

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CONDITIONS OF IMPROVED HEALTH

• An equitable distribution of health resources
• Community involvement at all levels

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CHARACTERISTICS OF NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

• Undersupply as well as under-use of human
  resource
• The contrast is more in public health care
  systems
• Low wages, morale and motivation is common
• Lack of standard managerial procedures
• Practical training in supervisory skills is
  lacking

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CHARACTERISTICS OF NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

• Poor transportation and communication facilities
• Curricula of training institutions advocate
  primary health care but in practice emphasize
  clinical care
• Result is a mismatch between content of training
  and actual health needs
• Great need for trained persons in policy
  analysis, planning and budgeting

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THE PHILOSOPHY OF PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING IN AFRICA

• Prevent, monitor, respond and control priority
  disease threats
• Strengthen the major public health sectors within
  the system
• Improve the quality, availability, exchange and
  dissemination of information
• Rocker Feller Foundation, WHO, CDC and USAID have
  been supporting the four SPH to develop
  compency-based epidemiology training

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THE PHILOSOPHY OF PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING IN AFRICA

• These training programs belong to the
  International Training Programs in Epidemiology
  and Public Health Intervention Network (TEPHINET)

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Proportion of Health Workers who intend to
migrate, 2002
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REASONS FOR MASSIVE BRAIN DRAIN

• Unsatisfactory work environment
• Low remuneration and poor benefit package
• Lack of opportunities for upgrading skill and
  career
• Poor infrastructure and facilities
• Lack of schools for dependent children
• Poor housing and other social amenities

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FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH WORKFORCE PERFORMANCE IN
AFRICA

• Education and Training (Pre-service and
  continuing professional development)
• Motivation
• Human Resource Planning Management

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THE OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL PROGRAMME

• Strengthen Public Health Capacity
• Enhance national surveillance
• Strengthen monitoring and evaluation
• Develop Centers of Excellence