Multifaceted health landscape is changing the nature of health workforce development

As with so many areas of human civilisation, the global health landscape has been changing at pace. Factors such as a rise in pandemics and ageing populations are adding new layers of complexity to health and wellness. These complexities are transforming the demands on the health workforce. As Prof Munya Saruchera, Africa Centre director, explains: “Today’s health workers need to be multiskilled and have a clear understanding of the many factors outside the healthcare sphere that determine and affect health outcomes.” These diverse determinants of health include social, political, environmental, cultural, commercial and indigenous knowledge factors.

To accommodate these complexities and effectively instil inclusive health management practices in the healthcare sector, there is a need to develop a workforce that is fit for the work. This will require fit-for-purpose, high-quality training, which is at the heart of the Africa Centre’s mission and purpose, achieved via its world-renowned postgraduate programmes. “The current environment speaks to the need for curricula that address the complexities that health professionals must understand,” said Saruchera. “Training must equip the health workforce to rethink health beyond traditional health issues, histories and geographies and to reimagine the design of health facilities and infrastructure.”

To explore the practical implications for health workforce training, the Africa Centre invited various guest speakers to the winter school to share insights on different aspects of workforce development, including a crucial private sector perspective. Students can look forward to the following sessions:

• Keynote speaker Dr Jameson Malemela, senior vice-president of health and employee wellbeing at Sibanye Stillwater, will discuss health and employee wellbeing for universal health coverage (which most African countries have incorporated into their national health strategies), including sharing lessons and research partnership opportunities between businesses and universities.
• Dr Gloria Maimela, CEO of the Foundation for Professional Development (which prioritises the professionalisation of health management and education), will shed light on the role of private and public partnerships in health workforce development on the continent.
• The growing prioritisation of health plurality and acknowledgement of indigenous health knowledge systems require a firm understanding of the role of spirituality in healthcare provision. Two industry experts will share their expertise on the role of spirituality and religion in developing the health workforce and achieving universal health coverage. They are Dr Annemarie Oberholzer, CEO of the faith-based organisation HospiVision (an Africa Centre partner) and Dr Raksha Balbadhur, founder of the Values in Healthcare Association of South Africa, which offers values-based workshops, tools and training for healthcare workers across Africa.
• To explore the role of business in developing health workers, Dr Nothando Moyo, deputy head of health (Occupational Medicine) at the Minerals Council South Africa, will share lessons from the their Masoyise programme, an initiative aimed at protecting and improving mineworkers’ wellbeing by reducing the impact of TB, HIV/Aids, non-communicable diseases and occupational lung diseases.
• Alexio Musindo, director of the ILO Decent Work Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, will discuss challenges and opportunities for skills development and training to prepare Africa’s health workforce for productive employment. He will also talk about what decent working conditions look like in the changing world of work.

Comprehensive, hands-on academic and research support

The winter school includes several informative sessions to support and equip students on their PgDip journey and set them up for success:

• Sessions on the remaining PgDip academic modules that speak to various aspects of HIV/Aids management, including strategies for prevention; therapeutic management/pharmacovigilance; mental health and wellness; a business perspective on HIV/Aids; social responsibility; ethics, leadership and HIV/Aids management; and programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Sessions on research methodologies and documentation, including referencing in academic writing; qualitative and quantitative research; and academic integrity in an AI context.

To encourage students to continue their studies in HIV/Aids management, there will also be an overview of the Africa Centre’s MPhil programme and potential research areas as well as the application process.

With the bulk of PgDip teaching taking place online throughout the year, these in-person sessions play a crucial role in connecting with students. We are looking forward to a productive week of insightful discussions, fruitful engagements and human connection.