800,000 More Workers Needed in Africa to Meet Health Goals by 2015

A new study published in the journal Health Affairs concludes that Africa has just 30 percent of the 1.16 million doctors, nurses, and midwives it needs to meet ambitious targets for reducing AIDS deaths and improving the health of mothers and children. Paying these additional workers -- if they were available -- would cost $2.6 billion, the researchers concluded. To fill the gap, the authors suggested that policymakers use more community health workers, increase training capacity, and provide incentives to motivate and retain workers. The study's estimates were based on World Health Organization recommendations that each African nation should have at least 2.28 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 1,000 people in order reach the Millennium Development Goals.

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