A blog from the Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health
By Diana Mukami, AMREF HQ
One billion people will never see a health worker in their lifetime.
AMREF strongly believes that investment in human resources for health (HRH) development is paramount in resolving this unacceptable situation.This position was the general feeling on the fourth day of the Global Forum in Bangkok.
Reflecting on the role of leadership in ensuring access and equity in health, Lisa Meadowcroft, CEO of AMREF USA, noted the key role played by political will at the national, regional and global levels. It is crucial for national leaders to create specific health functions at the community level.
It is therefore important to focus on building the capacity of community health workers (CHWs) to deliver primary health care services. Nevertheless, the capacity building of CHWs must go hand in hand with all the building blocks required to strengthen the health system. One way of achieving this is through linking national plans with local, supported by a well-coordinated programme of development efforts and backed by the necessary financing. Nzomo Mwita, Regional Training Coordinator at AMREF HQ, also noted the importance of incentivising the health workforce, especially those in rural areas.
There is a positive precedent for this. Since the initiation of Malawi’s six-year Emergency Human Resource Programme in 2004, the country has devoted 15% of the national budget to health and succeeded in increasing the number of health professionals by 66%. Consequently, Malawi is now on track to achieve Millenium Development Goals 4 and 5 on child and maternal health, services for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV now reach 68% of women, and over 13,000 lives have been saved.
From Malawi’s HRH success story, it is clear that with concerted effort, this crisis can be resolved. At AMREF, we work together – it is the only way to achieve access and equity in health care services.
The Global Health Workforce Alliance have released a new video illustrating the importance of health workers to their communities: A health worker for everyone, everywhere - imagine that!