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An overview of health workforce education and accreditation in Africa: implications for scaling-up capacity and quality

Okoroafor, S. C.; Ahmat, A.; Asmani, J. A.; et al. (2022) CC2

Hum Resour Health 20, 37 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-022-00735-y. For countries to achieve universal health coverage, they need to have well-functioning and resilient health systems. Achieving this requires a sufficient number of qualified health workers and this necessitates the importa... more

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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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100 health messages for children to learn and share - booklet

Children for Health (2018) C1

The '100 Health Messages for Children to Learn & Share' is an educational resource developed by Children for Health. It is aimed at children aged 8–14, particularly young adolescents (aged 10–14), who often care for younger siblings. The set contains 100 simple, accurate and adaptable health mes... more

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Responding to outbreaks of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in health-care facilities: guidance for the Western Pacific region

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

Responding to Outbreaks of Antimicrobial-resistant Pathogens in Health-care Facilities: Guidance for the Western Pacific Region is developed following requests from Member States in the Western Pacific Region for additional information and support in managing AMR outbreaks. It aims to provide: a ste... more

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Working for Health 2022-2030 Action Plan: planning and financing

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

This thematic brief accompanies the Working for Health 2022–2030 Action Plan, providing a rationale for the related actions of the Working for Health progression model (see Annex). This brief aims to inform Member States, non-state actors and other stakeholders vested in implementing the Action ... more

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Integrating the social determinants of health into health workforce education and training

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

Social inequalities are perpetuating unhealthy living and working conditions and behaviours. These causes are commonly called ‘the social determinants of health’. Achieving greater equity in health will demand that the health sector assumes a greater leadership role in addressing social inequali... more

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Positive health, dignity and prevention for women and their babies. Flipchart

Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) (2018) C1

A treatment literacy guide for pregnant women and mothers living with HIV
Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention for Women and their Babies is intended for use by networks of women living with HIV, women’s groups, peer educators and others wishing to help guide women living with HIV t... more

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Culture, Context and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Syrians

Hassan, G, Kirmayer, LJ, Mekki- Berrada A., et al. UNHCR (2015) C1

The document is primarily meant to inform mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) staff, such as: psychologists, psychosocial counsellors, social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and others who are involved providing individual or group counselling, psychotherapy and/or psychiatric... more

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Shaping our Lives: Learning to Live Safe and Healthy, free from HIV/Syphilis & other STIs

National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; Ministry of Rural Development; UNIFEM; et al. (2016) C_WHO

A Booklet on Women and HIV/AIDS for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Members of Self-help Groups (SHGs)
Version 2

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A Guide to Cancer for Health Service Providers

American Cancer Society; Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopia; John Hopkins Center for Communication Programs; et al. (2016)

Introduces the GATHER approach to counseling, a patient-centered approach that improves patient satisfaction Has a chapter offering basic biomedical information on cancer, as requested by health workers Includes information about management of side effects Encourages health workers to take care o... more

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Beat the heat: Child health amid heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia

UN Children's Fund UNICEF (2024) CC

Beat the heat: child health amid heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia finds that half of these children died from heat-related illnesses in their first year of life. Most children died during the summer months. "Around half of children across Europe and Central Asia – or 92 million children –... are already exposed to frequent heatwaves in a region where temperatures are rising at the fastest rate globally. The increasingly high temperatures can have serious health complications for children, especially the youngest children, even in a short space of time. Without care, these complications can be life-threatening,” said Regina De Dominicis UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. Heat exposure has acute effects on children, even before they are born, and can result in pre-term births, low birth weight, stillbirth, and congenital anomalies. Heat stress is a direct cause of infant mortality, can affect infant growth and cause a range of paediatric diseases. The report also notes that extreme heat caused the loss of more than 32,000 years of healthy life among children and teenagers in the region. As the temperatures continue to rise, UNICEF urges governments across Europe and Central Asia to: - Integrate strategies to reduce the impact of heatwaves including through National Determined Contributions (NDC), National Adaptation Plans (NAP), and disaster risk reduction and disaster management policies with children at the centre of these plans Invest in heat health action plans and primary health care to more adequately support heat-related illness among children - Invest in early warning systems, including heat alert systems - Adapt education facilities to reduce the temperatures in the areas children play in and equip teachers with skills to respond to heat stress - Adapt urban design and infrastructure including ensuring buildings, particularly those housing the most vulnerable communities are equipped to minimize heat exposure - Secure the provision of safe water, particularly in countries with deteriorating water quality and availability. UNICEF works with governments, partners and communities across the region to build resilience against heatwaves. This includes equipping teachers, community health workers and families with the skills and knowledge to respond to heat stress. more

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Working for Health 2022-2030 Action Plan: protection and performance

World Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

This thematic brief accompanies the Working for Health 2022–2030 Action Plan, serving as a rationale to the related actions of the Working for Health progression model (see Annex). The brief aims to inform Member States, non-state actors and other users of the Action Plan to guide action on inves... more

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Global progress report on WASH in health care facilities: Fundamentals first

World Health Organization WHO; UNICEF (2021) C_WHO

The report identifies major global gaps in WASH services: one third of health care facilities do not have what is needed to clean hands where care is provided; one in four facilities have no water services, and 10% have no sanitation services. This means that 1.8 billion people use facilities that l... more

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Human Resources for Health in Ethiopia

The Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI) (2016) C1

Ethiopia has seen high economic growth over the last decade, but remains a poor country with a high burden of disease. It has made considerable health gains in recent years, mainly by having health policies that focus on extending primary healthcare, using health extension workers. It... more

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Minutes to Die. Snakebites: The World Ignored Health Crisis

Lillian Lincoln Foundation; World Health Organization WHO, MSF; et al. (2019) CC

Communities in snakebite endemic countries need to be properly educated on what to do in the event of a snakebite and what steps to take to lessen one from happening. These comprehensive prevention videos in multiple languages are resources YOU can share with school children, agricultural workers, h... more

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Capacity-building for a strong public health nutrition workforce in low- resource countries

Delisle, H.; Shrimpton, R.; Blaney, S. et al. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (2017) C_WHO

The document addresses the pressing issues of global malnutrition and the urgent need to build workforce capacity in public health nutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the dual burden of malnutrition, characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition and overnu... more

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COVID-19 Basic Measures: For healthcare and deathcare workers in the handling of the dead

International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies IFRC (2020) C1

The wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is standard practice for the handling of the deceased and should be carried out in line with standard Health and Safety procedures. Healthcare and deathcare workers should take precautions when handling the remains of individuals who have died fr... more

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Population Size Estimation of Female Sex Workers In Tbilisi and Batumi, Georgia 2014

Dr. I. Chikovani; Dr. N. Shengelia; L. Sulaberidze; N. Tsereteli; et al. The Global Fund To fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Curatio International Foundation; Tanadgoma (2014) C2

Study Report August 2014 Curatio International Foundation (CIF) and the Association Tanadgoma would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by GFATM under the project “Establishment of evidence base for national HIV/AIDS program by strengthening of HIV/AIDS surveillance system in t... more

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Financialisation: a 21st century commercial determinant of health equity

Friel S., Schram A., Frank N., et al. Lancet Public Health (2024) CC

In 21st century capitalism, financial markets reign supreme. The elevation of investing, trading, and speculating as a way of making profit has shifted economic power towards institutional investors and enhanced the power of financial capital. Financialisation has introduced uncertainty in the commi... more

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Towards a Core Set of Clinical Skills for Health-Related Community Based Rehabilitation in Low and Middle Income Countries

Jessica O'Dowd, Malcolm MacLachlan, Chapel Khasnabis, Priscille Geiser Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development Journal (DCIDJ) (2015) CC

This research aims to identify a core set of clinical skills for working in a Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) setting, and to discuss whether they are appropriate for task shifting to a new or an alternative cadre of rehabilitation workers.