Long-term improvements in health will not be achieved through the delivery of health projects alone. AMREF sets out to influence those in power so that health policies, practices and financing better serve the needs of the poor.
AMREF has learnt a great deal from its 50 years of experience working in and with some of the poorest and most marginalised communities. Our advocacy work is imbued by lessons learnt in these communities. This evidence-based knowledge is used to inform, influence and advocate for change.
Health worker shortages
AMREF recognises the low numbers and capacity of health workers, particularly in rural areas, as one of the key challenges for effective health care in Africa.
AMREF’s advocacy priorities include:
- Community health workers should be recognised as an integral part of health delivery systems
- Health systems should be managed, staffed and resourced to provide effective health care and not just the treatment of diseases
Evidence of innovative and effective responses to the health worker crisis exists; there needs to be global commitment to collaborate to scale up proven good practice models at a national level across Africa. This process must be led and owned by African governments with appropriate levels of financial investment and technical assistance from donors.
Download AMREF’s latest advocacy report on the health worker crisis.
Africa has many examples of health policies that have originated in the West and have fallen far short of addressing the problems they targeted. This is largely due to a failure to understand the African context and to recognise the role and knowledge of communities.
AMREF makes sure there is a research component in all of our projects so that we may constantly improve our understanding and come up with appropriate and sustainable solutions to Africa’s health challenges.
Click here for some examples of our success stories that have been replicated and scaled-up across the continent and in other parts of the world.
