International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Innovative approaches to human resource planning and quality service provision are needed if African countries are to reduce maternal death rates, it has been claimed.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), there are fewer than five doctors for every 100,000 people across most of sub-Saharan Africa, a problem exacerbated by the departure of up to 20,000 health professionals to urban areas overseas every year.

Writing for the UNFPA website, Kathleen White and George Ngwa said task shifting to non-physician clinicians can partially solve this problem, providing they are suitably trained and supported.

They commented: "The aim is to make more efficient use of the available human resources for health.

"Studies have shown that the surgical outcomes of properly trained and supported clinicians are comparable to those of doctors, and that they stay at their posts longer."

By performing emergency interventions at rural health centres, such clinicians eliminate the cost of referral to regional hospitals, the writers added.

Last week, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA, claimed the global economic crisis had led to a deterioration in health conditions for women and girls around the world.