Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - In Zambia, one of the world’s poorest countries, devastated in the past decade by four wars, there is one doctor for every 18,000 people and one nurse for every 7,800.
This emerged from a World Health Organisation report issued on the occasion of World Health Day dedicated this year to the labour crisis in the sector of medical personnel.
Precisely for Africa there is concern for health workers who face a daily reality of abuse and disease. In Zambia for example HIV/AIDS malaria, TB and meningitis are widespread; maternal and infant mortality rates continue to rise; less than a third of the people has access to clean water and life expectancy in 2003 was 41 years (compared to 49 in 1995).
Health workers in developing countries face many risks: in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa the number of medical personnel who become infected with HIV/AIDS is higher than those who complete the course and it is estimated that 25% of abuse at work happens in the medical sector involving 50% of health workers. Hospitals are poor and even simple surgery is dangerous due to lack of equipment. (AP) (10/4/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:20; Parole:236)
