AFRICA/MALAWI - Only 2 doctors for every 100,000 people in a country where 940,000 people suffer from HIV/AIDS

Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) - “The crisis in healthcare system is becoming unbearable” say missionary sources in Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries. “For every 100,000 people there are only 2 doctors, 56 nurses and 58 assistants whereas the same number of people would need 20 doctors, 100 nurses and 228 generic assistants” the sources told Fides. “The country's 165 doctors work in city hospitals leaving rural areas, where 85% of the people live, totally uncovered. In a population of 13 million, 940,000 suffer from HIV/AIDS, 170,000 need anti-retroviral therapy. Of these only 85,000 actually receive it”.
“Due to the scarcity of medical staff these drugs are often given by people with little training, usually volunteers but even people who are themselves HIV+ ” the missionaries told Fides.
The situation of scarcity of medical staff has become unbearable. To face the situation the a 10 week training course for paramedics Health-Surveillance Assistant (HSA) has been launched. HSA will distribute anti-retroviral drugs. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/9/2007 righe 18 parole 198)