When addressing and attempting to fix the issues of health equity, we need to closely look at, scrutinize and challenge as many factors as possible. In most cases, it usually comes down to political criticism, which in my opinion is too harsh sometimes. Looking at the situation of health care provision in Zambia and most developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, I have come to observe and learn of other factors to which enough attention is not directed to. One would think that an individual training to be a nurse, studying to be a physician, a clinical officer, pharmacist and others, would be doing it mainly on grounds of compassion; this is not always the case though; there is increasing man power migration in the Zambia and Africa (The Greener Pasture Conception).
Many individuals study and train to be health care providers; however, after serving for a couple of years in their own country, they tend to seek for greener pastures. It is sad to know that most of those that leave in most cases only seem to care about the check they get at the end of the month.
Those who leave to pursue practices in their particular field of expertise could be understood due to developing countries not having the machinery or resources to meet their specialized skill.
Although Africa has challenging economic issues, issues such as professional medical personnel can’t afford to be paid their dues by their respective governments in time, excessive working conditions, and many others. Even though such challenges exist, leaving your fellow countrymen behind for the sake of achieving wealth at the expense of human life is very unfortunate; it is still a bleak reality.
One of the major hindrances to the possibility of achieving health equity sooner than later in Southern, Central and Western African countries is not the strain of a disease, the germs or an outbreak of a virus, but the man power syndrome factor.
Volunteers and nurses that strive to give healthcare to the ailing need ample professional assistance in order to provide good health services and deliver the best possible patient care.
In the recent past and present, while visiting clinical hubs as a patient, for educational purposes and/or as a companion to someone who was seeking healthcare services, I have come to observe that, it is not the people who need health care services that don’t show up but it is the health care providers that seem to be of few in numbers. It is clear to see that patients are there, crunched on benches for hours on waiting for medical attention, hoping to be attended to, some not getting any attention, some sadly dying, all these unfortunate circumstances occurring due to limited man power on the ground.
In my opinion, the problem is as a result of what I refer to as The Health Care Provider Greener Pasture Factor I describe this factor as, many skilled workers diverting from their initial goal of serving the sick to a new goal of getting a check with more zeros at the end.
We have so many health people graduating from universities and colleges in Africa, graduating meritoriously, but the question is? Where do they go? What is their cause? What is their compassion? What is their purpose?
Talk about social injustice†being carried out by those that we expect to deliver it or be on the right side of making sure social justice happens. Very shameful indeed!
With reference to the soldiers in the Global Health Corps†and the other great movements fighting for health improvement; if gifted individuals such as those from different cultural backgrounds and professions opt to leave their great paying jobs and career prospects in order serve mankind’s need for health efficiently, then those healthcare providers that elude their responsibility to serve for a better tomorrow are a letdown. For those that stay on and fight for human beings in their community, I Salute You!