In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Chrys Kaniki, a Senior Technical Officer for Strategy and Policy, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, sheds light on the disparities in healthcare workforce distribution on the African continent and the pressing challenge of brain drain.
PT: Can you provide an overview of the current state of healthcare professionals in Africa, with a focus on the youth demographic?
Kaniki: Recent studies conducted in the African continent have revealed a significant disparity in the healthcare workforce across the continent. This gap encompasses both the population of individuals residing on the continent and the availability of healthcare professionals. While certain countries boast of many health workers, they tend to be concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural communities underserved. In such regions, a single doctor or nurse often caters to the needs of thousands.
