Sufficient funding, evidence-based health policies, and strong immunization systems are critical to improving vaccine coverage in developing countries. However, that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Countries also need an adequate number of trained and skilled health workers.
Yet, there is a shortage of health professionals in more than 50 countries worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa carrying the bulk of the burden. Unless action is taken now, many countries will not maximize their progress towards the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Part of the reason for health worker shortages is poor working conditions, including low pay, which can lead to demotivation and cause professionals to migrate internally to urban areas or to emigrate overseas. Weak human resource planning and management is another major concern.
AMP is committed to improving the health worker crisis. It is a member of the Global Health Workforce Alliance (The Alliance)—a partnership of governments and other actors dedicated to identifying, implementing, and advocating for human resource solutions—and is planning to create an International Human Resources for Health Development Center (Centre international de développement des ressources humaines en santé, CIRHS).
In collaboration with governments, national and regional training institutions, as well as other partners, AMP's human resources work focuses in particular on: