Bucking the trend
by Victor Roy on September 22, 2008
To leave, or not to leave? Unfortunately, that's not even the question for many medical students in sub-Saharan Africa. "How can I leave?" is more often the worry for so many promising medical professionals. With low pay, dangerous working conditions, and greater incentives elsewhere, more and more "would-be leaders" are leaving for Europe and the US.
Dr. Julian Atim, a graduate of Makarere's medical school in Uganda, is trying to buck the trend. She remains deeply committed, after losing both of her parents to HIV/AIDS in Uganda, to developing a stronger public health infrastructure in her home country. Building the infrastructure for medical training and retention which can produce more stories like Julian's is absolutely necessary.
While other solutions for addressing the problems created by the brain-drain also need to be explored - and we'll do that here in coming posts - how do we create an environment where educated professionals will want to stay on the African continent
No comments.