The World Well being Organisation (WHO) has projected that the African area might face a staggering scarcity of 5.3 million healthcare professionals by 2030 if nations don’t take swift motion.
Technical officer for Human Sources for Well being (HRH) at WHO, Dr. Muyiwa Ojo, acknowledged this at a two-day capability constructing workshop for well being journalists, organised by WHO, in Abuja.
Nigeria is battling a extreme healthcare disaster with a scarcity of almost a million healthcare professionals, rating because the third-largest absolute scarcity of well being employees globally.
This alarming determine was disclosed by Dr. Muyiwa Ojo, Technical Officer for Human Sources for Well being (HRH) on the World Well being Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, throughout a two-day media coaching session organized by WHO in Abuja.
Dr. Ojo emphasised the pressing want for reforms to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system, significantly in response to the rising problem of mind drain.
The energy of each well being system displays the capability and adequacy of its workforce, which is critical to ship high quality providers to handle inhabitants well being wants. Sadly, Nigeria’s scarcity of well being employees is likely one of the most extreme globally, he acknowledged.
In line with WHO, Nigeria leads Africa within the scale and impression of mind drain, with many expert healthcare professionals emigrating searching for higher alternatives overseas. The nation has been recognized as one in all 55 nations with essentially the most important well being workforce challenges.
Dr. Ojo highlighted that Nigeria’s healthcare system faces immense strain as a result of poor HRH planning, uneven workforce distribution, and insufficient recruitment and retention insurance policies.
He famous that these points not solely cut back the standard of healthcare supply but additionally weaken efforts to handle public well being calls for successfully.
Dr. Ojo attributed the disaster to labor market failures, inadequate training and coaching assets, and poor funding for the well being sector.
Along with healthcare workforce challenges, the occasion additionally addressed the function of media in tackling gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation.
WHO’s technical officer for Gender-Primarily based Violence, Ms. Oyinloye Inigbehe, confused the significance of media protection in driving consciousness and advocacy efforts.
She mentioned, GBV and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) are main considerations throughout the International Fund Technique. By reporting on these points, the media can empower survivors, elevate consciousness in regards to the causes, and advocate for coverage adjustments.