Despite the expanding literature on how reforms may affect health workers and which reactions they may provoke, little research has been conducted on the mechanisms of effect through which health sector reforms either promote or discourage health worker performance. This paper seeks to trace these mechanisms and examines the contextual framework of reform objectives in Uganda and Bangladesh, and health workers' responses to the changes in their working environments by taking a 'realistic evaluation' approach.
Human Resources
Health sector reforms and human resources for health in Uganda and Bangladesh: mechanisms of effect
Ssengooba F, Rahman SA, Hongoro C, Rutebemberwa E, Mustafa A, Kielmann T, McPake, B: Human Resources for Health 5:3, 1 February 2007
Tackling Malawi's human resources crisis
Palmer D: Reproductive Health Matters: 14 (27): 27-39, 2006
In sub-Saharan Africa, health systems are fragile and staffing is grossly inadequate to meet rising health needs. Despite growing international attention, donors have been reluctant to undertake the significant investments required to address the human resources problem comprehensively, given social and political sensitivities, and concerns regarding sustainability of interventions and risks of rising donor dependency. In Malawi in 2004 the government launched a new health initiative to deliver an Essential Health Package, including a major scale-up of HIV and AIDS related services. Improving staffing levels is the single biggest challenge to implementing this approach. Registration (free of charge) with medscape is required to view the article.
Addressing the human resources crisis: a case study of the Namibian health service
McCourt W, Awases M: Human Resources for Health 5(1), 15 January 2007
This paper addresses an important practical challenge to staff management. In 2000 the United Nations committed themselves to the ambitious targets embodied in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Only five years later, it was clear that poor countries were not on track to achieve them. It was also clear that achieving the three out of the eight MDGs that concern health would only be possible if the appropriate human resources (HR) were in place.
Core competencies in human rights for health professionals
The University of Cape Town, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health and Human Rights Programme
The Health and Human Rights Programme at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in conjunction with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the South African Nursing Coulncil, the South African Medical Association and the Democratic Nurses Organisation, hosted a conference exploring what are Core Competencies in Human Rights for graduates in the health professions. The conference aimed to provide guidance to those bodies setting standards for our graduates as to what kinds of competencies and skills should be expected of doctors, nurses and other health professionals once they graduate from our training institutions. The conference took place from Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th July and helped to develop recommendations for curriculum standards for graduates in the health professions in South Africa.
Kenya Medical Association’s (KMA) position on medical officers interns employment
Ochiel S, Ndege S: Kenyan Medical Association
The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) received a copy of a petition to the Minister for Health from its members who have been on internship. The immediate consequence to this is that the concerned doctors will have their salaries stopped and asked to vacate their stations as they wait for the positions of medical officers to be advertised. This letter states expands on how and why KMA fully support the petition by the medical officer interns.
Further details: /newsletter/id/32042
Kenya: Cholera outbreak in Mandera
Mwai E: The East African Standard, 26 January
Miriam Ahmed's face contorts in pain as her frail and bony fingers clutch her stomach. A sweat breaks on her head as she writhes in pain on her bed. The 16-year-old girl is the latest patient to be admitted to Mandera District Hospital following an outbreak of cholera in the area. The District Medical Officer of Health, Dr Boniface Musila, says the situation is under control. But Mandera District Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Muktar Omar, said there was a shortage of nurses at the facility.
More Zimbabwe government workers join strike over poor pay
Integrated Regional Information Network, 23 January 2007
More disgruntled Zimbabwean government employees have joined striking doctors and nurses to demand higher salaries as the economy continues to rumble. Lecturers at the country's eight state-owned educational institutions have become the third group of employees - after doctors and power utility workers - to take industrial action this year. Government awarded civil servants across the board a 300 percent salary increase, but this was rejected as too low.
Mozambique: HIV/AIDS carers to be taught ARV management
Integrated Regional Information Network, 16 January 2007
The Mozambican Red Cross will begin training hundreds of volunteer workers to manage antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people in their care living with HIV/AIDS. "This training is extremely important and will improve the work of our carers," Paula Macava, the Red Cross Mozambique coordinator of the HIV/AIDS programme, told IRIN. "We have now finalised an eight-module training package on antiretroviral therapy management, specifically designed for carers."
The impact of Public Sector Reforms on Public Sector Workers
Lethbridge J: Public Services International Research Unit, 2006
This paper presents some initial findings from a survey of public sector workers, in a number of countries in Europe, Africa, North America, Latin America and Asia, and how they have been affected by policies of liberalisation in relation to wages, working conditions and other forms of socio-economic security. This survey was a joint initiative between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Public Services International (PSI), an international trade union. The aim of the survey was to explore three themes: workers’ socio-economic security; quality and accessibility of public services; and relations between government, foreign and domestic capital, trade unions and civil society.
400 new Kenyan doctors to be sent home
Mwaniki M, Siringi S: Nation Media
Some 400 newly qualified doctors in public hospitals are reported to be facing dismissal in December. This media report outlines the proposed measure which ends the automatic employment of interns due to budgetary retraints, to make way for incoming interns. While a share of these doctors may be rehired in the annual advertisement of positions this is reported to no longer be automatic.
Further details: /newsletter/id/32016