Bush Doctors
Benoît Gysembergh
Paris Match
Most African doctors are from fairly privileged backgrounds and like to work in cities, rather than going out into the bush, far from mod cons and modern life, far from their family and friends. The dreadful irony is that Africa needs doctors, yet many of them are unemployed and trying to find a job, any job, in a big city or with an international organization. Africa is too poor to maintain a medical system that would offer financial incentive for young men and women who have spent seven years studying medicine. But there is plenty of work. Africa is the continent with the greatest disease burden per head of population, with 25% of the world disease burden but only 10% of the world population. And it is the region with the smallest percentage of healthcare professionals (0.8 for every thousand, compared to 10.3 per thousand in Europe). Every year between 15% and 40% of healthcare workers leave the public health system, opting instead for more lucrative activities. Harsh working conditions and poverty force many health workers to take on second jobs, for example working in private practice, and this has led to disastrous absenteeism and, inevitably, corruption.
Preview
Emigration is another prospect. With the increase in life expectancy in wealthy countries, there has been increased demand for medical care and there are real opportunities for doctors whose income can increase ten-fold, even though it may be difficult to live in exile and it is to the detriment of poor countries that paid for the doctors to be trained. Wealthy countries send drugs, but skilled, motivated men and women must be found and trained to diagnose, treat and educate people, to find the right response to this “endemic emergency”. Sustainable development in Africa includes this too, and it is absolutely essential to have doctors based in rural areas. The report shows the everyday experience of doctors from Mali who have formed an association called Médecins de campagne (Country Doctors) with support from the French NGO Santé Sud which provides training in public healthcare, plus medical instruments, a solar power unit, a motorbike and, most importantly, moral support and guidance to help them cope with the problems of living away from home and the difficult challenges that can arise in the middle of the bush.
Bamako, May 2006.
