Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says health workforce shortages are growing in developing countries, including South Africa.
The President said this on Wednesday at the official launch of the High-Level Commission on Health, Employment and Economic Growth in Lyon, France.
President Jacob Zuma is co-chair of the commission, along with French President Francois Hollande.
He said highly trained health care workers often migrate to advanced economies where they are readily absorbed, never to return.
“By training millions of health care workers all over the world and creating employment opportunities, we will go a long way to address the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality faced by developing countries,” he said.
The President said it will also contribute positively to the response to global epidemic outbreaks as recently witnessed with Ebola in West Africa.
“We know that communicable diseases do not respect international boundaries, nor do they need any visa to travel across countries.
“It is our hope that this commission will come up with recommendations which will make a difference in the lives of people across the globe, particularly for women and youth who continue to carry a disproportionate burden brought about by poverty, unemployment and inequality,” he said.
He said the work of the commission goes to the heart of implementing the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. - SAnews.gov.za
