The African continent is the second most populous region in the world, having 57 countries with a projected population of 1.37 billion people by 2021. This large region faces serious health challenges.
The first challenge is the lack of access to healthcare facilities. A significant shortage of healthcare providers, Africa has only 2.3 healthcare workers per 1000 population, compared with the Americas, which have 24.8 healthcare workers per 1000 population.
Secondly, these workers are not professionally trained enough to deal with criticalities and are not updated with the latest technological advancement in medicine. This being the reason, the mortality rate in Africa is the lowest of all.
The Current Healthcare Situation In Africa
According to WHO, 50% of children under five who die of pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria belong to Africa. This speaks volumes about the current health situation in the continent. The UN and other international organizations are helping Africa stand tight on its feet.
With the rise of new technologies, the world is changing. The healthcare industry has transformed from a traditional one to a digital one. This has changed the way people live, how they communicate with each other, and how they find jobs.
The private sector is also playing a huge part in strengthening the health system across the continent. These private providers are either profitable or non-profitable enterprises that curate medical equipment and provide high-quality services which are not available in public sector healthcare organizations.
How Can Healthcare System Be Improved In Africa
There are several measures being taken to improve the situation for healthcare in Africa, and some are already bearing fruit. One major way to improve the system is through increasing public-private partnerships (PPPs). PPPs have become increasingly popular over the past decade as a means of addressing major infrastructure needs such as water supply systems or electricity grids—but they can also be used to fund innovations like vaccines or medical equipment.
Secondly, governments can also invest in creating more jobs for healthcare professionals. This would encourage people to stay in school longer so they can get better jobs when they graduate from college or university.
The Pros
These jobs could pay well and provide benefits such as health insurance coverage or paid vacation time each year after their first year of employment with an employer who pays into a special fund administered by their state government office. These funds can then be used to provide healthcare services for all residents (or whatever percentage of residents qualify based on income level).
According to research, IFC estimates that over the next decade, $25-$30 billion investment will be needed to meet Africa’s health care demand. This huge sum can be generated only with global help.
You can also contribute to the growth of the healthcare system in Africa by participating in fundraising programs and buying stuff to donate for such causes. If we all join in the way forward for healthcare in Africa will for sure be a less bumpy road.