WHO says small gains in African health being made by local projects

[Guest guest]

WHO says small gains in African health being made by local projects

Last Updated: Monday, November 20, 2006

The Associated Press

African countries are developing innovative methods to tackle illness

and disease, but health problems across the continent remain

enormous, the World Health Organization said in a report Monday.

The UN health agency's report assessed the enormity of problems

ranging from the ongoing AIDS crisis to the increasing incidence of

diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

It also highlighted innovative strategies being developed across

Africa that rely not on expensive methods imported from richer

countries, but on local initiatives using readily available

resources — such as the training of community health-care workers.

Nurses play key role

In Uganda, the shortage of doctors meant AIDS patients were going

without treatment. To fill the gap, the country turned to its nurses.

" Training nurses to do jobs traditionally done by doctors allowed

Uganda to reach more patients and save lives, " said Dr. Antoine

Kabore, WHO's director of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa.

In a continent that experts say is in desperate need of at least one

million more health-care workers, full use of the existing workforce

is crucial.

Continue

[Guest guest]

WHO says small gains in African health being made by local projects

Last Updated: Monday, November 20, 2006

The Associated Press

African countries are developing innovative methods to tackle illness

and disease, but health problems across the continent remain

enormous, the World Health Organization said in a report Monday.

The UN health agency's report assessed the enormity of problems

ranging from the ongoing AIDS crisis to the increasing incidence of

diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

It also highlighted innovative strategies being developed across

Africa that rely not on expensive methods imported from richer

countries, but on local initiatives using readily available

resources — such as the training of community health-care workers.

Nurses play key role

In Uganda, the shortage of doctors meant AIDS patients were going

without treatment. To fill the gap, the country turned to its nurses.

" Training nurses to do jobs traditionally done by doctors allowed

Uganda to reach more patients and save lives, " said Dr. Antoine

Kabore, WHO's director of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa.

In a continent that experts say is in desperate need of at least one

million more health-care workers, full use of the existing workforce

is crucial.

Continue