African Platform on Human Resources for Health “Walks the Talk”

In Nairobi, Kenya, 70 participants from 29 countries and partner organizations attended the first consultation meeting of the African Platform on Human Resources for Health (APHRH). CapacityPlus staff Doris Mwarey participated in the three-day event in October.

Under the theme of “Walking the Talk,” participants shared various African experiences, innovations, solutions, and lessons learned on health worker migration and retention, leadership and management, and community health workers.

Session highlights included:

• A progress update on the 2009 Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action coordinated by the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA)

• Review and updates of the APHRH charter to ensure that the platform will be a strategic tool of support to its members

• An explanation of the Code of Practice on migration led by representatives from the World Health Organization. 

GHWA representatives reminded participants about the upcoming Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2011. Participants were encouraged to support their countries in submission of success stories for the excellence awards and nominations for the health worker award categories.

Photo: Trevor Snapp. (Health workers in Mount Elgon District Hospital, Kenya)