Namibia

Health and Social Services minister highlights Africa’s Health Workforce Challenges

today7 May, 2024

Background

Health and Social Services minister, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, addresses the Africa Health Workforce Investment Summit, highlighting Africa’s critical shortage of health professionals. With a ratio of 1.55 health workers per 1,000 population, far below the WHO threshold of 4.45, access to healthcare services across the continent is severely limited. Shangula emphasizes the challenges of shortages, retention issues, and burnout among healthcare workers, hindering the delivery of quality healthcare, particularly in remote areas. Namibia is addressing these challenges with a strategic plan to develop a quality, equitably distributed health workforce aligned with national development goals and global health targets by 2030.

Written by: Leonard Witbeen