31 Mar World Health Worker Week 2017 Podcast Series: Conquering health workforce challenges can pave the way to a healthier world
In many ways, a fully functioning health workforce drives the well-being of communities, regions, and entire countries. Policy-makers at the national level can use reliable data to make decisions about where and what type of health workers are needed based on population health needs. A facility with health workers trained to deliver a variety of services can seamlessly integrate maternal and child healthcare, family planning, and HIV services for its patients. A fully-staffed clinic in a remote village can serve as a critical line of defense against the spread of infectious disease.
In low- and middle-income countries weak health systems pose serious challenges for health workers and, by extension, the overall health of the population. Building strong health systems designed to support an optimized health workforce will move us closer to achievement of global health goals, such as ending preventable maternal and child deaths, FP2020, controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and protecting communities from infectious diseases.
In honor of World Health Worker Week 2017, HRH2030 project directors explore some of the human resources for health (HRH) obstacles that impede access to quality health care and discuss solutions.
Jim Griffin, Project Director, HRH2030
Why Build a Fit-for-Purpose, Fit-for-Practice Health Workforce?
Jim Griffin highlights the crisis facing the health workforce as countries strive to reach global health goals.
(Running time 3:09)
Dr. Grace Namaganda, Project Director, HRH2030 Malawi
Show Me the Numbers! Data for Decision-Making
Dr. Grace Namaganda discusses the importance of reliable HRH data and the challenges to collecting and analyzing it.
(Running time 7:21)
Edward Chappy, Project Director, HRH2030 Jordan
Harmonizing Continuing Professional Education Systems for the Health Workforce
Edward Chappy describes obstacles caused by disparate continuing professional development systems and the need to work across sectors to harmonize them.
(Running time 3:59)
Isaiah Ndong, Project Director, HRH2030 Senegal
Drawing Health Workers to Remote Areas (and keeping them there)
Isaiah Ndong uses Senegal as an example of the problem that many countries encounter when trying to retain health workers in remote locations.
(Running time 5:39)
Country: Global, Malawi, Jordan, Senegal
Resource Type: Other
Topic: HRIS and health workforce data, Leadership and governance, Performance and productivity, Skill mix and competency