23rd May, 2011
AMREF forms partnership wih GSK to address shortage of frontline health care workers
The chronic shortage of trained frontline health workers in developing countries is recognised as one of the most fundamental constraints to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
AMREF, together with Save the Children and CARE International, has joined with GSK in a new Health Infrastructures Partnership. The objective of the partnership is to address the acute shortage of appropriately trained and adequately supported frontline health workers in the world's least developed countries.
Trained frontline health workers can significantly improve access to basic health services in their communities, leading to improved health outcomes, especially for mothers and children.
In some settings, a fully trained and well-supported community health worker can effectively deliver treatments, and provide health education for common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and acute malnutrition, and reach up to 5,000 children in a year.
“GSK is committed to playing its part in improving access to health care in all of the countries in which we operate. We are pleased to partner with three respected NGOs to deliver solutions that can make a difference on the ground in the world’s poorest countries.” Andrew Witty, CEO, GSK
Each NGO is responsible for establishing Health Infrastructure Partnerships in particular regions, through which the projects will be selected and funding channelled. These partnerships will include representatives from local health care organisations, government officials and partner organisations.
“Health workers are the backbone of an effective health system. Without them, the system fails, and investments in health will be wasted. Estimates suggest that Africa needs one million more health workers in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals for health, so we applaud GSK’s commitment to this key priority of AMREF’s work.’’ Belinda Coote, CEO AMREF UK
AMREF will implement the project in East and Southern Africa in the following countries: Eritrea, Somalia, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, Lesotho, Djibout, Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. In countries where we have AMREF presence, we will work with and within the Country Programmes to roll out the project. Where we have no AMREF presence, we aim to work with partners.
More information on AMREF's work training health workers