Preparing the health workforce for future public health emergencies in Africa
Abstract
Commentary Preparing the health workforce for future public health emergencies in Africa 1 1 2 1 Sunny C Okoroafor , James Avoka Asamani, Landry Kabego, Adam Ahmat, 1 1 1 Jennifer Nyoni, Jean Jacques Salvador Millogo, Mourtala Mahaman Abdou Illou, Kasonde Mwinga To cite: Okoroafor SC, INTRODUCTION Summary box Asamani JA, Kabego L, Public health emergencies due to natural et al. Preparing the health disasters, emerging and re-emerging infec- ⇒ The long- standing health workforce issues and workforce for future public tious diseases remain a big challenge in the health emergencies in challenges in Africa are contributing to the physical Africa. BMJ Global Health African Region. The health systems in the and mental impact of public health emergencies on 2022;7:e008327. doi:10.1136/ Region are weak and fragile—character- health workers. bmjgh-2021-008327 ⇒ Planning for the health workforce in the context of ised by weak health governance, inadequate public health emergency prevention, preparedness, health infrastructure, essential medicines Handling editor Seye Abimbola response and recovery by government and other and technology; health workforce shortages; stakeholders is important, as health workers are crit- and limited financing capacity. The Region is Received 18 December 2021 ical in planning, service delivery, supervision, coordi- Accepted 6 February 2022 recording an increasing