SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012
TIME: 12: 00 PM-1: 00 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME
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HOST: Dr. Ladi Owolabi CO-HOST: Regina Askia Williams, RN
Types of Health care Facilities and Services required and currently available in Africa
There are basically two main types of healthcare system namely: Acute Care and Long-Term Care. Acute care refers to Short-term medical treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients having an acute illness or injury or recovering from surgery. Long-Term Care (LTC) refers to nursing-home care, home-health care, personal or adult day care for individuals above the age of 65 or with a chronic or disabling condition that needs constant supervision. These types of health care require several branches of facilities and services. A health care system is thus the organization of services, facilities, and resources towards the health needs of target populations.
Many African countries are lagging behind most countries in other continents when it comes to the number of hospitals, physicians, nurses, medical graduates, nursing graduates, Hospital beds, MRI, CT scanners, Mammography, and other health facilities and service professionals.
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Having functional healthcare system requires a concerted effort among governments, trade unions, charities or other coordinated bodies in order to put sustainable facilities and necessary services in place for the populations they serve. Admittedly, the progress in African countries is slow. However, healthcare system is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, so there is hope.
What are the current facilities and services needed and currently unavailable in Africa? What type of type of healthcare professionals are required in the healthcare delivery system in Africa? What types of plans are in the pipeline to fill gaps and shortages of healthcare workers in Africa? What type of framework is being envisioned to provide a comprehensive plan to improve health care quality; prevent medical errors; reduce health care costs; increase administrative efficiencies; decrease paperwork; and expand access to affordable care?
