Kamwi welcomes 319 new health workers

A STAFF shortage is one of the main challenges facing the health sector in Namibia, Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi said in Windhoek on Thursday.

“This shortage is a result of various factors, which includes limited human resource supply, migration of health workers from the public to the private health sector, attrition through death and retirement,” said Kamwi. The Health Minister was speaking at the graduation of 319 nurses from the Ministry’s Training Network.”Another factor is the impact of the disease burden from HIV-AIDS, malaria and TB, which result in high workload and subsequent burn-out syndrome,” he added.In addition, there was an imbalance in the distribution of available human resources, especially between urban and rural areas and the private and public health sector.In response to these challenges, said Kamwi, the Ministry of Health has accelerated training of health and social service personnel in various categories.He said for the 2006 academic year, the Ministry had provided financial assistance to 300 students studying inside and outside the country to the tune of more than N$3 million.The Health Minister was speaking at the graduation of 319 nurses from the Ministry’s Training Network.”Another factor is the impact of the disease burden from HIV-AIDS, malaria and TB, which result in high workload and subsequent burn-out syndrome,” he added.In addition, there was an imbalance in the distribution of available human resources, especially between urban and rural areas and the private and public health sector.In response to these challenges, said Kamwi, the Ministry of Health has accelerated training of health and social service personnel in various categories.He said for the 2006 academic year, the Ministry had provided financial assistance to 300 students studying inside and outside the country to the tune of more than N$3 million.