This appeared on facebook:
Search Ghana
Ghana had about 1,600 doctors in 2004 as it did in 1969!!!
The general perception is that this is as a result of brain-drain to more advanced countries and those other places where they are better appreciated. In your own opinion, what can we do to help Ghana keep vital personnel in Ghana?
Here’s my comment:
Christopher Scott: Ironical that people in the diaspora use poor health care systems in their homelands as one of their many reasons for not returning. Is it not the case that there are more Ghanaian doctors in the city of New York alone than there is in all of Ghana?
I know, I know! I didn’t address how to keep vital personnel in Ghana. I just think more is involved than just trying to keep doctors here. I believe much more effort must be made in facilitating the return of more doctors abroad, who I call doctors with borders. Those doctors abroad more than likely are working in environments that demand higher levels of expertise and accountability. Together with those doctors present in the system, the Ghana Health Service would probably improve immensely. How in heaven’s name can all those health related millennium development goals be reached without an adequate number of highly trained health personnel. With a return of diasporan doctors surely there would be an improvement on such stats as one in 16 women in sub-Saharan Africa dies in childbirth. One in 13 babies … within a week.
Check out the other comments on the issue on the Search Ghana facebook page and comment.
P.S. The title of this post is meant to provoke….discussion!
Kwame Kyeremateng Mensah-Aborampah
September 12, 2011
DOCTORS! Two of my biological brothers in USA are “Doctors” :A food scientist, and a library scientist (they are not Doctors who “give injections”). My nephew is a medical Doctor in USA. I KNOW of 7 Medical Doctors in their 50′s from Ejisu living in USA. They are not coming to Ghana to work…..forget it! Oh, they will be visiting home frequently when they go on pension! We need them in their youthful ages. The Korle- Bu Junior Doctors are yet to be accommodated. Let us maintain the Doctors we have in Ghana, and leave the ones outside in peace. Conditions at “home” will break them into pieces!
KUDOS to our Doctors in Ghana! They are great.
Carole Ann Toe
September 12, 2011
That is shocking news that Ghana has the same amount of doctors now as in 1969! My husband is from Ghana and I want to help there all I can! I appreciate this education I am getting from your emails! Please keep them coming! I plan on going to Ghana is 2 years time and working there! Maybe I can be of help there in some way! I have a business degree from Whitworth University and hope to be able to use it in Ghana!