July 02, 2018

What ails Africa’s public healthcare?

located:	Uganda, Malawi
editor:	Bob Koigi

On average, 800 women die daily globally from preventable causes associated with pregnancy and child birth, with 99 percent of such deaths occurring in developing countries. Out of this percentage more than half occur in Sub Saharan Africa. It is a scenario better captured in tens of hundreds of pregnant women who die in hospital beds as nurses stare in despair for lack of basic facilities, or in mothers who cannot access basic medical services in public hospitals who then opt to give birth at home; by themselves and sometimes, with fatal consequences.

Infectious diseases like Malaria and HIV/AIDS still cause 69 percent of deaths in Sub Saharan Africa, despite governments’ supposed commitment to effective public healthcare. While Africa bears a quarter of the world’s disease burden, it only has 2 percent of doctors. The rate of brain drain in the health sector, with the well trained doctors looking for better terms of engagement elsewhere, has consistently left Africa’s healthcare bleeding.

Up to 80 percent of Africans rely on their country's public healthcare due to its affordability. Yet the thought of accessing it when in need is a nightmare to many, as stories of avoidable deaths remain commonplace.

While there have been considerable steps in meeting the growing demands for quality public healthcare, the continent has a very long way to go in balancing growing medical needs and the limited resources available. 

Africa has a huge potential to heal the public healthcare by tapping into the numerous innovations that are being championed by its young people. From Uganda’s smart jacket that diagnoses pneumonia four times faster than a doctor, to Malawi’s Gifted Mom, an app that gives mothers prenatal and antenatal care, these life changing technologies have proven low cost yet powerful in addressing some of the most biting healthcare problems.

The private sector and development partners must also step up their resolve to champion effective and affordable medicare. Africa's public healthcare is too important to be left to government alone.

Photo: Quality Health Africa