The meeting was organized after identifying numerous issues including shortage of health workers and inadequate capacity among African countries.
Figures show that 70% of African countries face the shortage of healthcare professionals.
Apart from the shortage and inadequate capacity, challenges faced by investors in the sector also results into shortage of infrastructures and high cost of pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Pascal Zurn, a Health Economist at World Health Organization has revealed that the meeting is of critical significance because healthcare professionals need adequate training to bridge gaps in the sector.
He also stressed the need to make follow up to ensure trained individuals are hired to serve people especially in rural areas and expressed optimism that training beneficiaries will contribute to the advancement of the health sector in their respective countries.
“We expect experts gathered here to be equipped adequate knowledge helpful in building capacities of health workers in their countries,” he said.
Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) thanked organizers of the meeting noting that it is a platform for countries to exchange ideas on how persistent issues can be addressed. He also shared Rwanda’s efforts geared towards building the capacity of health workers.
“We conducted an assessment which indicated that we need healthcare professionals in public and private facilities. Since then, we established the body of human resources for health workers’ capacity building,” he said.
Despite pointed out gaps, the health sector on the African continent has registered commendable efforts to increase healthcare professionals where health schools rose from 168 in 2005 to 401.
The number of trained healthcare professionals also increased from 6000 in 2005 to 28600. At least, 60,000 nurses graduate every year compared to 26,000 graduates released in 2005.
As of today; 148, 000 healthcare professionals attend different trainings every year.
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