African countries launch decade-long plan to expand health workforce
Health ministers in Addis Ababa backed a 10-year effort to train and retain more workers as the continent faces a projected shortfall of more than six million by 2035.
African countries have agreed on a decade-long plan to strengthen their health workforce, with ministers endorsing the effort at a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday. The move comes as the continent prepares for a projected shortage of more than six million health professionals by 2035, according to UN News.
The plan is aimed at expanding training, improving retention and building stronger health systems across the region. UN News said governments are trying to respond to gaps that could make it harder to deliver basic care in the years ahead.
The announcement was made during a gathering of health ministers in Ethiopia’s capital, where officials discussed ways to shore up staffing and service delivery. The initiative is intended to guide policy over the next 10 years.
UN News reported that the workforce gap is expected to widen without action, making the new plan part of a broader push to reinforce public health capacity across Africa.
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