CHALLENGES OF A POSITIVE HEALTH WORKFORCE - UGANDA

AUTHOR AUTHOR

DR LYDIA MUNGHERERADR LYDIA MUNGHERERATHE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANISATION THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANISATION

(TASO) UGANDA(TASO) UGANDA

INTRODUCTION

The health workforce in Uganda has suffered The health workforce in Uganda has suffered major blowsmajor blows

The ratio of patient to Doctor is 1:23,000The ratio of patient to Doctor is 1:23,000 There is a huge shortage of nurses & other cadres There is a huge shortage of nurses & other cadres

in most health centres especially in the peripheral in most health centres especially in the peripheral areasareas

Other factors like brain drain, low recruitment Other factors like brain drain, low recruitment have added to the huge shortage of health workershave added to the huge shortage of health workers

CHALLENGES No centres where health workers feel free to No centres where health workers feel free to

access medical services and health seeking access medical services and health seeking behavior is very poorbehavior is very poor

A large number of health workers have ignorance A large number of health workers have ignorance on issues of HIV management including post-on issues of HIV management including post-exposure preventionexposure prevention

Dialogue among each other is lowDialogue among each other is low Stigma and denial are key challenges and many Stigma and denial are key challenges and many

die silently without treatmentdie silently without treatment Heavy burden of work and continuous stressHeavy burden of work and continuous stress

IMPACT Lack of sufficient data on numbers of health Lack of sufficient data on numbers of health

workers infected with HIVworkers infected with HIV Decreased number of health workers Decreased number of health workers

accessing VCT and Antiretroviral treatmentaccessing VCT and Antiretroviral treatment Shortage of health workforce in health Shortage of health workforce in health

centres due to sickness and eventual deathcentres due to sickness and eventual death Stigma towards patients because of fear & Stigma towards patients because of fear &

ignorance.ignorance. Poor communication between each other to Poor communication between each other to

help seek help in timehelp seek help in time

GIPA The Greater Involvement of People The Greater Involvement of People

living with HIV/AIDS has played a living with HIV/AIDS has played a major positive impact on the AIDS major positive impact on the AIDS response in Ugandaresponse in UgandaHIV positive people have contributed HIV positive people have contributed to reduction in stigma and act as peers to reduction in stigma and act as peers

HIV positive health workers are better HIV positive health workers are better placed to sensitize their colleaguesplaced to sensitize their colleagues

RECOMMENDATIONS Training of health workers should start in medical Training of health workers should start in medical

schools.schools. Health workers should be trained in all aspects of Health workers should be trained in all aspects of

HIV/Aids including post exposure prophylaxis. HIV/Aids including post exposure prophylaxis. Continuous dialogue amongst each other should Continuous dialogue amongst each other should

be encouraged on HIV issuesbe encouraged on HIV issues Wellness Centres with good counsellors should be Wellness Centres with good counsellors should be

availableavailable

RECOMMENDATIONS (Contd.)

Training in counseling skills is very importantTraining in counseling skills is very important VCT and treatment including ARVs should be VCT and treatment including ARVs should be

available for all health workersavailable for all health workers Human rights of positive health workers should be Human rights of positive health workers should be

maintained and this includes confidentiality & sick maintained and this includes confidentiality & sick benefits. benefits.

Caring for Cares programs should be funded.Caring for Cares programs should be funded.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dr Myers Lugemwa - Ministry of HealthDr Myers Lugemwa - Ministry of Health Dr. Esther Aceng – WHO Lesotho Dr. Esther Aceng – WHO Lesotho Uganda Medical AssociationUganda Medical Association World Health AssociationWorld Health Association

Prof Sewankambo - Dean Medical School, Prof Sewankambo - Dean Medical School,

Makerere University - UgandaMakerere University - Uganda