Uganda reviews health workforce strategy amid staffing gaps

[Archival Sense]

The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Jhpiego Uganda and Seed Global Health, has reviewed Uganda’s health workforce situation as the country plans for the next phase of workforce development.

The stakeholders assessed progress under the Health Workforce Strategy 2020–2030, reviewed findings from the health labour market analysis and discussed emerging issues expected to shape health workforce planning under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).

The meeting also marked the close-out of the Global Reach II programme, implemented by Jhpiego Uganda to strengthen health worker capacity through national virtual training and the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme supported training in areas including HIV, mental health, disease surveillance, emergency medical services, pharmacy and laboratory services.

The discussions come amid a major health workforce shortage across Africa. The continent accounts for about 19 percent of the world’s population and 23 percent of the global disease burden, but has only five percent of the world’s health workforce.

The stakeholders said strengthening health workforce planning and investment remains critical to improving access to quality healthcare and responding to the continent’s growing health needs.

Photos By Ministry of Health Uganda