People & Lifestyle
Their Gain Africa’s Loss: How U.S., U.K., Others Benefit from Africa’s Medical Brain Drain
As recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal doctor-to-population ratio is 1 per 1,000 persons. But in reality, Africa can only boast of 1 per 10,000 persons, and the shortage worsens by the day. By 2035, the insufficiency is expected to reach 4.3 million physicians. Despite the huge gap, the continent has been suffering an increasing medical brain drain as its trained health workers migrate in droves to developed countries, including the U.S., U.K. and Canada.
Africa bears 23% of the global disease burden. But in contrast, it accounts for only 3 per cent of health workers. The developed countries with the lowest relative disease burden have the highest numbers of health workers, while Africa with the highest burden has a much smaller workforce.
For example, the United Kingdom, with a population of 68 million people, has over 370,000 physicians, while Nigeria, with over 211 million people, has less than 75,000 physicians, according to WHO. Despite that, the U.K. employs at least 12 Nigerian doctors every week. A 2008 report by Lancet showed that about one in 10 doctors working in the U.K. were from sub-Saharan Africa, and the figure has been increasing. For example, as of 2006, there were 2,692 Nigerian doctors in the U.K. medical workforce, and by 2018, the figure stood at 5,250.
In 2016, a former president of the Nigerian Medical Association said an estimated 8,000 Nigerian doctors were practising in the United States. A 2004 study revealed that nearly 86% of African doctors in the U.S. workforce came from only three countries, Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana, and 79 per cent of them were trained at only ten medical schools. Apart from physicians, other U.S. healthcare fields also consist of high percentages of Africans. For instance, 24% of its registered nurses, 20 per cent of nursing assistants, and 16% of personal care aides are from Africa.
Canada also has a history of increasing its health workforce with African-trained professionals. As of 2001, 17 per cent of physicians in the province of Saskatchewan bagged their first degree in South Africa. A decade later, the total number of foreign-trained doctors in Canada rose to 22 per cent, with Africa being the biggest source. Other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Australia, and the UAE, have sustained their relatively high physician-to-population ratio by employing medical graduates from African countries.
The driving force behind the mass emigration is the quest for greener pastures, as many health workers struggle to cope with the working condition at home. “I left Nigeria because I wanted to earn more money, learn new things and practise in a better environment,” a Nigerian physician working in the U.S. said in an interview. Low pay, poor infrastructure, paucity of job opportunities, and fear of a bleak future for their children are some of the core identified reasons for the mass exodus.
This perennial challenge has both medical and financial implications. Despite having just 16 per cent, Africa accounts for less than 1% of total global healthcare expenditures. And looking at it in per capita terms, the rest of the world spends ten times more on healthcare than Africa. The severe funding disparity tells hugely on both its medical personnel and facilities.
On average, a surgeon in New Jersey, United States, earns $216,000 annually, while their counterparts in Zambia earn $24,000, and Kenyan physicians make on average $6,000 per annum. There are 0.3 hospital beds per 1,000 people in Ethiopia compared to Germany with 8.0 per the same number of people. There have been various cases ofZimbabwean doctors operating with bare hands due to a lack of gloves. At the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Central African Republic, a country of about 5 million people, had only three ventilators. And for Nigeria to meet its medical infrastructure gap, it needs an $82 billion investment in healthcare real estate and about 386,000 beds to reach the global average of 2.7 beds per 1,000 persons.
All these ills explain why more African health professionals move in droves out of the continent. Not only do they migrate to those countries, they usually see out their active service years and retire there. Being high-value immigrants in their countries of destination, they easily acquire permanent residence, such as the Indefinite Leave to Remain in the U.K., the Employment-Based Green Card in the USA, and later acquire citizenship by naturalisation. This indicates that once they fly out, there is no hope of Africa ever benefitting from their expertise anymore.
Monetary wise, many developed economies save hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars from the brain drain while Africa bears the financial losses. A 2011 study on nine sub-Saharan African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) showed that governments spent between $21,000 to $58,7000 to subsidise a doctor’s education.
Therefore, losing thousands of trained physicians to other nations after graduation puts each of these African countries in a huge financial loss. The overall loss of return was estimated to be billions of dollars, and the United Kingdom was reported to be the highest beneficiary with $2.7 billion, followed by the United States with $846 million.
In 2010, the World Health Assembly adopted a code of practice on the international recruitment of health professionals, which recommends that wealthy countries should lend financial assistance to source countries facing a shortage of healthcare workers. That same year, the U.S., through its Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI),invested $130 million to support medical schools in 12 sub-Saharan countries. While such initiatives may offer a little economic relief, they will not completely solve the ills associated with the shortage, especially as many African countries grapple with high rates of preventable disease and child maternal mortality. The continent needs its trained experts to tackle this barrage of health challenges.
Many publications have questioned the motive behind Africa’s brain drain by wealthy countries and wondered if that should be viewed as a crime. However, since the recruitment is a mutual agreement between the countries and the health workers, it may be wrong to accuse the beneficiary countries of any wrongdoings. The 2010 World Health Assembly Code also attempted to stem the flow of talent migration, but it has not really been successful, as more African health workers daily queue to join their colleagues in the developed world.
This leaves Africa with no choice but to develop its health care sector and make it attractive to its medical personnel. If provided with a world-class working environment and remuneration at home, less African-trained doctors would consider emigration. The onus is on African leaders to show the required political will to curb the brain drain. This will lessen the health challenges in the continent and improve the overall wellbeing of their citizens.
Olusegun Akinfenwa is a political correspondent for Immigration News, a news organisation affiliated with Immigration Advice Service. IAS is a leading U.K. immigration law firm that helps people migrate and settle in the U.K.
People & Lifestyle
Understanding Fri Data Abonnement
These days, it’s practically impossible to escape mobile phones. Throughout the world, a lot of us simply need these devices to get basic tasks done – not to mention to work at our most efficient! This is certainly true here in Norway, which is likely not a huge surprise.
Once we accept that these mobile devices are simply a part of our lives these days, the next thing to think about is how they work. Specifically, how we have access to cell service and internet services when using our phones – it’s a question that everyone has to wonder about at some point.
Today, we’re here to cover how cell phone services work, what options there are, and how you can access a free data subscription. The tricky part of this can be deciding which one we want for ourselves, seeing as there are a ton of factors at play.
If you’re someone who wants to switch service providers, or you’re a first-time cell phone user, you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to explain all of the intricacies that you may run into, as well as provide some advice on what types of plans to prioritize. Stay tuned!
What Are Cell Phone Plans, Anyway?
Cell phone plans are service agreements offered by mobile carriers that allow customers to access voice, text, and data services on their mobile devices for a monthly fee. Chances are, you’ve heard of them before – they’re pretty popular all across the world.
Now, these plans typically include a set number of minutes, texts, and data. They may also include various features such as international calling, mobile hotspot capabilities, and unlimited streaming. Naturally, customers are able to choose from a variety of plan options based on their needs and usage habits.
Types of Mobile Plans
There are several different types of these plans – you can read more about them on this page: https://www.nist.gov/publications/cell-phone-forensic-tools-overview-and-analysis-update?pub_id=51100, if you’d like some sort of reference. With that said, let’s take a closer look at some of the broad options that you may encounter.
Prepaid Plans
These sorts of plans were popularized by the “Tracfone” brand, but there are plenty of other companies that offer this as an option. Simply put, these plans require customers to pay for service in advance – usually on a monthly basis, though it can be for longer periods of time as well. One of the plus sides is that prepaid plans do not require a credit check and often offer flexibility in terms of contract length and payment options.
Of course, they’re not always going to be ideal. They’ve dwindled in popularity over the past decade, since there are better choices these days for folks who use their phones consistently.
Postpaid Plans
As you may have already guessed, these are essentially the opposite of the above option. You see, these require customers to pay for service after they have used it. More often than not, this will be on a monthly basis. Postpaid plans often involve signing a contract with the carrier and may include additional fees or charges.
Overall, they’re probably the most popular option. The contracts tend to last for a few years (two, in most cases), so they’re relatively flexible – it’s not as if you’re signed on for life. Just be sure to read over the clauses to ensure you’re getting what you want.
Family Plans
Not everyone who is getting a mobile phone plan will be doing so on their own. That’s where family options come into play – these can be a great deal for families large and small alike, depending on the circumstances. Allow us to explain.
Family plans allow for multiple different devices to share a single plan. The real perk here is that it will usually be offered at a discounted rate when compared to individual plans. Just keep in mind that these plans tend to include shared data, minutes, and texts, as well as the ability to add additional lines as needed.
While they can be quite useful, the sharing of data, minutes, and texts will mean that larger families may need to go for an unlimited, or free data, option to ensure that everyone has the access they need. You can go to website to get a better idea of how this works in practice.
Unlimited Plans
This is an option that can be combined with a few of the others (family and postpaid). They offer users on the line to have unlimited access to services like data, texts, and voice minutes. That said, there are usually still stipulations on things like international calling and texting.
Pay-As-You-Go Plans
For the final type that we’re highlighting in this section, we have pay-as-you-go plans. They allow customers to pay only for the minutes, texts, and data they use – and they come without a monthly contract or commitment. Overall, these plans are ideal for light users or those who want more control over their spending.
At the end of the day, some users will find it easier to blend a few of these plan options together. Most of the time, service providers will be willing to work with you to find a plan that suits you (and your family, when applicable), but isn’t overly expensive.
Choosing a Plan
The trickiest part of this whole thing is narrowing down what will actually be the best fit. Something you’ll want to bear in mind right off of the bat is that there are a ton of service providers across Norway, so that will likely play a role in your eventually choice. After all, before you decide on anything like that, you’ll need to research which companies offer service in your area.
Once you’ve gotten that out of the way, though, the fun can begin. There are a ton of factors that will play a role here, so make sure to follow along!
Analyze Your Usage
The first step you’ll want to take is to think about how much you use your mobile phone right now (or how much you plan to use it). Additionally, there’s the matter of what you actually use it for. Both of these aspects will play a role here.
Voice minutes are an easy one to think about. How often do you call people? Do you spend a long time on the phone, or do you tend to keep things short and sweet? Many people don’t find the need for unlimited voice minutes these days, but they do tend to be bundled in with other free use plans, so that may in fact be a non-issue.
What about texting? Admittedly, this does seem to be how most people communicate nowadays. However, if you’re chatting with friends or coworkers internationally, you may use a third-party messaging service that uses data (or Wi-Fi) rather than text minutes. This could easily influence the number of monthly texts you need access to.
Data is probably the most important factor in this category, as it’s how we browse the internet at all when we aren’t connected to Wi-Fi networks. Now, some people work from home or simply don’t get out much, so they may not necessarily need a free data subscription. However, most folks do tend to travel about and want to access the internet on the go.
Without data, you can’t send emails, browse social media, or stream videos unless you’re connected to a Wi-Fi outlet. It’s not hard to see why this is useful – or why most people tend to go with a free data subscription (also known as an unlimited data plan).
The last factor to consider here is contingent on whether or not you are going for a family plan. If a lot of people are utilizing phones on the same line, then unlimited data, texts, and voice minutes can be invaluable. This way, everyone who’s included on the plan will be able to access these services as much as they need, without having an impact on anyone else’s service.
Cost, Contract Terms, and Other Services
At the end of the day, it’s pretty hard to make a decision on this sort of thing without first analyzing the cost that you’re comfortable with. Often, with family plans, everyone will chip in to help cover the bill each month – so, that could help save some cash in the long run, if that’s what you’re considering.
However, if you’re just purchasing one line, you may have further restrictions to consider in terms of budget. Thankfully, most phone companies offer several tiers, bundles, and packages to make their services as accessible as possible. Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare offers with the companies that service your area, either.
Contract terms are also something you’ll want to take into account. Essentially, you’ll want to decide if you prefer a prepaid plan with no long-term commitment or a postpaid plan with a contract. Consider factors such as contract length, early termination fees, and any perks or benefits that come with a specific plan. All of this will have an impact on final costs as well.
Finally, it can also be worth it to see what additional features or perks are included with a certain plan. For instance, consider any additional features or perks that are important to you, such as international calling, mobile hotspot capabilities, or streaming services. Some plans may include extras that can enhance your overall experience, though they come at an upcharge.
Selecting mobile phone services isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it to take the time to really browse the options available. That way, you can be confident knowing you got a good deal.
People & Lifestyle
Implementing Performance Management Systems: From Evaluation to Excellence II
This April, we commence a 5-part series on one of our highly recommended strategies for driving a culture of peak performance – The Evolution of Performance and Impact Measurement. Last week, we discussed 6 steps to implementing an excellent performance management system. Today, we bring the concluding 4 the effective implementation of performance management systems.
- Integrating Employee Feedback
Just as it is with corporate goal setting, collaboration for effective performance involves integrating a system that gives employees the opportunity to engage or provide feedback. This is critical because most of the operations in the workplace and more direct interactions with customers are made by employees on the lower rungs of the corporate ladder. Some of the famous tweaks in the production model of successful organizations were made by mid-level and low-level employees who see opportunities that top management might be tone-deaf or oblivious to. These insights are invaluable because they offer perspectives that can increase the form utility of what is being produced. This is because the business cycle is not complete until the goods or service is delivered to the customer and feedback received. This also enhances job satisfaction for the employees because they see themselves as part of the big picture.
- Instituting An Improvement System
This largely speaks to trainings but improvement is holistic. Training here applies to both managers and subordinates because it takes two to tango; the lack of training can sabotage productivity because one ignorant fellow with power can lead an organization down to ruins. Leaders and team members must constantly upskill because competence on one level can quickly become incompetence on a higher level. These could be owing to changes in within the organization or outside the organization. For example, after an organization secures new funding from investors or become quoted on a stock exchange, it has effectively become a different organization because its scope of operation has widened and the scale of production has to be increased owing to the new demands imposed on it by new stakeholders. Training interventions should be data-driven and vision-inspired; in response to the current needs of an organization and a preparation for its future.
- Recalibrating The Performance Management System Itself
For organizations that are actively learning and growing; they know that it is never what they started with that they continue with – changes are a part of their success story. Tweaking a performance management system doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not productive or yielding the desired results, it’s because little changes can have huge consequences. Sometimes, managers need to relax certain timelines because the strategic priority of an organization might have changes from speed to accuracy, thus the focus might be more on qualitative outcomes than just quantitative outcomes. This happens mostly when organizations are expanding and have gained significant notoriety, it means that they come under more scrutiny for compliance from regulatory authorities, investors and the business community.
For example, 1Tesla is not necessarily focused on mass producing electric cars so that the markets are flooded with them; owing to the highly technical nature of the car which includes self-driving features. This year alone, Tesla has recalled about 200,000 cars owing to a software error that could have prevented the rear-view cameras from displaying. This came barely two months after more than two million of its vehicles were also pulled from the market for autopilot issues. It had to double down on quality control so that it doesn’t lose its reputation as the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles.
- Automating The Process
The performance management system is not a one-off tool; it’s a continuous process that never really ends – it’s an end-to-end play. If allowed to be operated manually, the performance management system would fail because it would be tiring and monotonous to start the same process all over again. Leaders should learn a thing or two on how the universe works – everything is designed in cycles, loops that are intentionally co-ordinated to such that there is really no difference between a start-point and a stop-point.
In a performance management system where the five core components are specifying expectations, monitoring, meeting employees’ developmental needs, the use of appraisal and rewards – the last component (rewards) should seamlessly introduce the first component (specifying expectations).
Implementing performance management systems requires a lot of critical thinking and emotional intelligence because execution can be the difference between successful organizations and failing organizations. Productivity is so important that it cannot be happenstance; therefore managers should become aware of the moving parts that make increased productivity possible.
1https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/01/26/tesla-recalls-nearly-200000-vehicles-over-rearview-camera-software-issue/
Growth Opportunities
To further position your leaders for peak performance, you can download a free copy of the latest edition of The Peak Performer Magazine at www.thepeakperformer.africa You can also enroll your Mid-level Leadership Team for the Made4More Accelerator Program https://abiolachamp.com/m4m-accelerator and your Senior Leadership Team for the Dr. Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp MOMBASA 2024 https://abiolachamp.com/international-bootcamp/ We also have an upcoming training for leaders in public service www.abiolachamp.com/depips/
About Dr. Abiola Salami
Dr. Abiola Salami is the Convener of Dr Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp and The Peak PerformerTM. He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP – a full scale professional services firm trusted by high performing business leaders for providing Executive Coaching, Workforce Development & Advisory Services to improve performance. You can reach his team on hello@abiolachamp.com and connect with him @abiolachamp on all social media.
People & Lifestyle
Delta to serve Ghana with new Airbus A330-900neo
Delta Air Lines will fly its state-of-the-art Airbus A330-900neo on nonstop service from Accra to New York-JFK effective 27 October 2024. The new aircraft will add approximately 30% more capacity between Ghana and the United States.
Speaking to journalists at a media roundtable in Accra, Matteo Curcio, Delta’s Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India, said, “Delta has worked to deliver an enhanced travel experience in Ghana. We look forward to welcoming customers onboard our A330-900neo aircraft come October, offering exciting new products and services as they travel to and from the United States.”
Matteo used the opportunity to express his gratitude to Delta’s customers, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and the government of Ghana for their continued partnership.
The brand-new A330-900neo aircraft will add nearly 1,000 more seats each week between Ghana and the U.S. It offers four distinctive experiences – Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin – and more cargo capacity to cater for growing demand.
Customers can expect Delta’s best-in-class service and a uniquely premium onboard experience as they travel to and from the U.S. Each Delta One Suite features a sliding door for enhanced privacy, the luxury of a fully reclining seat, accompanied by plush bedding crafted from recycled materials. Delta One customers can also enjoy more beverage options and a seasonal chef-curated four-course meal.
Meanwhile, customers flying in Delta Premium Select will have more space to relax and stretch out, with a wider seat, deeper recline, an adjustable footrest and leg rest. Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin passengers benefit from comfortable, memory-foam seats.
All travelers will enjoy ambient lighting for a restful flight, Wi-Fi for purchase, and seat-back screens featuring 1,000+ hours of Delta Studio entertainment. Delta collaborates with diverse suppliers worldwide for in-flight products such as artisan-crafted amenity kits and beverages like Thrive Farmers Tea.
Delta continues to maintain its reputation for operational excellence. The airline has consistently been recognized for excellence in passenger experience, customer service, operational performance, and workplace culture. Recent achievements include winning Cirium’s Platinum Award for operational excellence for the third consecutive year, OAG’s most on-time airline, Air Transport World’s Airline of the Year 2024, and the Wall Street Journal’s top U.S. airline.
People & Lifestyle
A Powerful and Emotional Experience – “In the Pants of a Woman” – By Beatrice Shine Ayroe
People & Lifestyle
Short films and La Cinef Jury and selections of the 77th Festival de Cannes
Flanked by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Paolo Moretti, Claudine Nougaret and Vladimir Perišić, the Belgian actress Lubna Azabal will award the Short Film Palme d’or and the 3 La Cinef prizes, the Festival de Cannes’ selection dedicated to student films.
The Jury will discover the 11 films in the Short Film Competition and the 18 films in La Cinef selection unveiled today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
People & Lifestyle
Atarah Praise: Prophet Joseph Atarah set to rock Adenta on May 19
Ghana’s singing Prophet, Joseph Atarah is set to rock the people of Adenta on May 19 with Atarah Praise. (more…)
My wife sent her nudes to her Dubai lover while I was on my sick bed – Erico speaks on divorce
Afronita’s mum was against me managing Endurance Grand alongside her daughter – Quables
I underestimated the extent of my influence – Serwaa Amihere apologizes
Stonebwoy performs ‘Activate’ with Davido at sold-out Madison Square Garden show
REPORT: Dulcie Boateng’s Porials Pitch leads to arrests over ‘unregistered products’
Fameye celebrates daughter’s 2nd birthday
Kid Cudi cancels tour after breaking foot at Coachella
Kofi Jamar Voices Concerns About Difficulty Securing Media Interviews
Departing Effiakuma was the toughest challenge – Kofi Kinaata
I underestimated the extent of my influence – Serwaa Amihere apologizes
Buzz1 week agoMy wife sent her nudes to her Dubai lover while I was on my sick bed – Erico speaks on divorce
Buzz6 days agoAfronita’s mum was against me managing Endurance Grand alongside her daughter – Quables
Buzz15 hours agoI underestimated the extent of my influence – Serwaa Amihere apologizes
Buzz1 week agoStonebwoy performs ‘Activate’ with Davido at sold-out Madison Square Garden show
People & Lifestyle4 days agoREPORT: Dulcie Boateng’s Porials Pitch leads to arrests over ‘unregistered products’
Buzz1 week agoFamily of accident victims refuses to press charges against Funny Face despite pressure
Buzz7 days agoGhana’s New Train from Poland Crashes During Test Run
Gossip5 days agoWATCH: Irene Logan sings ‘At Last’ as she dances with her husband at their wedding reception
Buzz2 days agoKofi Kinaata Credits Samini’s High Grade Family for Musical Breakthrough
- Buzz1 week ago
I was battling Kidney Disease – Erico on Absence from music scene
Buzz1 week ago“Life has humbled me so much” – Mercy Johnson
World News1 day agoKanye West reportedly planning to launch porn studio
