Africa must develop strategies to meet its health needs – Bawumia

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia called for critical reflection and strategies by African countries to meet the health needs of its rapid population growth.

He noted that the population growth of Africa, which amounted to 1.2 billion individuals, required immediate and critical reflection to ensure the provision of primary health care services. quality, affordable and accessible.

Data provided by health service providers shows that Africa is facing the double burden of communicable and noncommunicable disease control in an environment of limited resources, which requires urgent action to remediate.

Vice President Bawumia voiced concern and called for action at the 22nd annual conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Senchi, near Beijing. ; Akosombo.

Medical professionals from the Medical and Dental Councils of 22 African countries and participants from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Liberia attend the meeting.

The Vice President said that Africa's population was growing rapidly even though fertility rates had dropped, noting that by 2050, Africa would have the largest continent in the world. with a quarter of the world's population.

Currently, he said, Africa had the youngest population in the world; 60% of its population was under 25 years old.

"Therefore, we really need to think very seriously about how to focus on the whole issue of primary health care, because if it does not, it becomes fundamentally difficult to [19659002]

But if we focus on primary health care, as we all have said, then I think we will have a better understanding of the higher population with which our respective countries have to contend in the opposite case.-far farther.2050 is about 32 years old.This is not so far and with medical progress, I am sure most of we in this room may be alive to see 2050, "observed the vice president.

Dr. Bawumia emphasized the need for the continent to adequately prepare for the growing population growth, with its medical, educational and other needs, including available human resources.

Dr. Bawumia said, "We need to see how we can improve our health systems … we need about 1.3 million health professionals in Africa."

He said that we needed to put in place the necessary infrastructure to train the health professionals needed to cope with Africa's rapid population growth.

Referring to the challenges faced by medical staff, especially physicians, trained outside Ghana, who must pbad and pbad a number of exams before being allowed to practice In the country, Vice President Bawumia set up a system of accreditation of qualified training institutions around the world whose products meet Ghanaian training standards.

"Unfortunately, over the years, I have been informed that the results of the Ghana registration exams for these internationally trained practitioners wishing to practice permanently in the country were showing varied skills that raise quality issues.

"But I think that in the end we must be badured that the schools that our potential doctors are trained abroad meet the required standards. That's what we should think, "added the vice president.

He suggested that the Medical and Dental Council review training schools around the world and accept the products of those who meet Ghana

"For anyone who decides to go out and train in any country, he will know that this or that school does not meet the standards required in Ghana," he said.

Source: GNA