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Malawi’s bottlenecks, digital content and health’s human resources crisis

February 9, 2012   ·   4 Comments

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At the opening (2 February 2012) of the Irish Forum for Global Health IFGH) conference in a bitterly cold Dublin, Dorothy Ngoma, Executive director of the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi, listed facts that  certainly raised eyebrows in regards to Malawi and its health status.

By 2050, the population of Malawi is expected to rise to 45.2 million, a staggering rise, one which would put incredible strain on the healthcare system and its workers. If one was to consider that today, on average, a woman walks 10km to her nearest maternity unit just to queue up – three to four weeks in advance – to deliver her baby; one can only imagine what maternity provision will be like in 2050.

Ms Ngoma was emphatic; this needs to change and the best way to do so is via  changing how we manage human resources. Currently, there is one nurse per 3680  people, nowhere near the recommended WHO ratio of 1:1000.

Considering only 10,000 nurses have been trained in the country since 1947,  Ms Ngoma called for a doubling or tripling of intake to meet the demand of nurse provision. In terms of midwives, there are approximately 5,000 in total, well below the 15,000 target estimates suggest the country needs.

With all this in mind, what can be done? While adjusting to the global financial  crisis by recognizing the ‘bottlenecks’ such as a nursing shortage that comes due to decreased funds would be a start. Following this, community and public sensitization on human resources for health, increased lobbying of MPs and further  advocacy and publicity will be required. To be frank, this has all been said  before, but Ms Ngoma’s emphasis on the facts hit the audience today in a way that  may not have happened before.

Following this, Mr Tom O’Callaghan, CEO of the iheed Institute, delivered an enthusiastic, light hearted presentation on innovative ways to mobilize a workforce. He highlighted how the skills of the ‘young technical workforce’ must be utilized so that digital content and distance learning can be integrated into health systems. Mr O’Callaghan argued that this fundamental shift will be key to solving health’s human resources crisis.

In response to this, it was amusing to hear an audience member point out the age  old fact; that this may be good and well but when it comes to human resources, doctors and nurses are the most stubborn to change. Having a medical background, I would agree, but what makes this all the more appropriate, was that this was all being said in the halls and lecture theatres of the Royal College of Surgeons.

*Dr Kunal D Patel; Medic, academic and global Health advocate

Tags: Dorothy Ngoma, National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi

4 Responses to “Malawi’s bottlenecks, digital content and health’s human resources crisis”

1. 4

   Amina Says:

   February 10th, 2012 at 10:31 am

   
   

   If we are 14 million Malawians my calculations says that there is one nurse taking care of 1,400 patients. surely this is more than enough for oen worker to take. This is acute shortage really. I wish the govt increase the nurses intake for the benefit of the citizens. Open more Nurses Colleges so that we send the school leavers for this noble job. We need volunteers nurses as well to be given basic home care training which can ease this huge burden on nurses. This can be done through tolerance and understanding of oru leaders. Like 0 Reply

2. 3

   Dickens Says:

   February 10th, 2012 at 8:10 am

   
   

   Guys nurse in Malawi are doing nothing. It’s only Doctors, Clinical officers, mortuary officials and cleaners that are needed. Nurses in South Africa and other developed countries are the ones that takes care of patients in clothing them, cleaning them when messed up with Bibi, bathing patients etc. You will never find patience attendants in South African hospital whelther public or private. These patients attendants are the ones making hospitals over crowded and no wonder why people fall sick from no where as a result of staying in hospitals taking care of relatives. This is the last thing I will discuss with the president on my agenda as one way of having a better Malawi for all. Nursing as the word clearly state is about nursing patients or rather taking care of patients in every legal way possible not otherwise or what what is happening to Malawian nurses. I am not blaming nurses here but I think their services goes beyond waht they do now. Dickens Like 0 Reply

3. 2

   Josef Says:

   February 10th, 2012 at 7:51 am

   
   

   Dorophy went to this conference to present her paper but I can asure you that she has no idea as to how she can present the same to fellow Malawians who got the solution to the shortage. Had there not been for the allowance and ndenge ride she could have started with us here and see what the country can offer Was this an observation to seek sympathy or science to change mindset? Like 0 Reply

4. 1

   Mzati Ntolokosa Says:

   February 9th, 2012 at 6:40 pm

   
   

   All this under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency Professor Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, chitsulo cha njanji, economic engineer, Mthetsa njala, Mthetsa aids, Father and founder of Mulhakho wa Alomwe!!! Like 4 Reply