Focus on health workers in 2012

Dr. Robert Zavuga

What would make health workers stay in the profession for all their life? Is it change in the Government policies, pay rise, changes in work conditions or the environment that would make their job more rewarding, tolerable or less damaging?
Some say doctors should stop moaning and get on with the job.

The truth is, despite the fact that this year’s highly anticipated pay rise is considered a big boost, many health workers are either leaving the profession or leaving the country in search of greener pastures.

Tales from hospitals
Here are some stories of a few who would like to stay working in Uganda. Their names have been changed and details simplified.

 Mary is a nurse working for a hospital, which doesn’t provide her with meals and accommodation. She says she would be fine if she is given food, transport and housing allowances.

 Samson is a senior radiographer, who has been battling with backache for the last seven years. Despite his pain he still has to drive to work. He says if medical workers could be given a health insurance scheme like that of ministers and parliamentarians then life would be simpler.

 Lawrence is a doctor who slightly enjoys a better pay, more allowances and privileges as compared to his fellow medical workers. He is a manager of a health centre and is also the only doctor in the district. He says he is tired of earning a salary of an ordinary medical officer yet he does a lot of work. He feels many. He has a lot of responsibilities, but little pay.

He thinks there are two sets of rules: The spoken and the real ones. The spoken ones are, come and work, we shall improve your welfare and pay. The reality is, prove yourself; give more of yourself, we are watching you.

There are a million stories out there and none of the above is unique or especially tragic. They are very ordinary bits of grumbling, hardily reasons for medical workers to give up the profession or leave the country. These small quarrels are indicative of the general way health workers think and talk about their experiences, but I think it is not difficult to address these issues.

Compounding these practical difficulties needs a very specific emotional context of the health workers. The calling of medical practice is unique and overwhelmingly important: life, death, distress and grief. If it were not so, we wouldn’t have been entrusted with the job of being the mechanics of the body! It is that calling that that brings people into medical practice.

But alarmingly the price tag of such a noble profession is of low value. This does not only de-motivate the health workers but also makes the profession less attractive. I sincerely think that health workers have suffered and died long way before their patients have. Doctors are not the only workers who are stressed, teachers too are tired.

Perhaps on top of the salary increment, there are other things that can be done. Simplified maternity rights for female health workers, time-off for domestic crises, health insurance schemes, regular promotions, top-up allowances and the improved work environment.

Training and retaining of human resources for health is a global challenge, but such small details can make great wonders.