By Susan Anyangu
An exodus of overburdened, overstretched and poorly paid health workers threatens to cripple Kenya’s health sector that of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The matter was raised during a regional nursing conference, yesterday.
As a result, the continent risks not meeting Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — four and five — to improve child and maternal health.
Speaking during the opening of the conference at a Nairobi hotel, Director of Medical Services Francis Kimani said Africa faces a shortage of 2.5 million health workers.
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"Africa is far from even achieving the halfway mark of meeting the MDGs on health set by the World Health Organisation by 2015," said Dr Kimani.
Further, he said, scientific evidence showed there were poor results with regard to safe motherhood and this is largely affected by health workers’ attitude.
"A study done in 29 districts in Kenya revealed poor results of safe motherhood affected by health workers’ attitudes, lack of male involvement, traditional taboos and lack of infrastructure," said Kimani.
However, while the lack of health workers in other Sub-Saharan Africa is attributed to lack of production, in Kenya there is overproduction of trained health workers with no commensurate absorption into the sector.
Dr David Okello, the WHO representative in Kenya, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr Joyce Lavussa warned of an emerging and dangerous trend towards abolishing lower cadre health worker groups, mainly enrolled nurses and midwives.
emerging vacuum
"While it is commendable that health workers are improving their skills by acquiring higher level training, there is an emerging vacuum at the bottom and this could create further problems. This is bound to lead to the emergence of an unregulated cadre of workers to fill the vacuum," said Okello. He said 60 per cent of the population does not use skilled health care, an indication of the public’s lack of trust in the health care system.
Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o said it is upon the Government to improve health care system for the benefit of all.
"What is required is a comprehensive social health insurance system which will ensure services are available to all. Leadership priorities should also be reformed to focus on providing good health care facilities for all," Prof Nyong’o said.
