Vital

News & commentary about the global health workforce

Community Health Workers Make a Difference for Pediatric HIV Clients in South Sudan

Lawrence Monday links health facilities and communities to extend HIV care and treatment services.

Open Access: The Only Viable Option for Change

Many people do not have access to a medical or academic library that subscribes to medical journals; even a low $10 document viewing fee is a burden.

Text Messages: An Essential Tool for Reaching Remote Health Workers in the Kenyan Health System

Like many sub-Saharan African countries, Kenya has a severe shortage of health workers, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, which makes it difficult or impossible for people in these areas to...

Global Health and American Moral Power

My parents survived the Holocaust; they were Jewish children who spent the war in hiding in France. After the war, they received CARE packages from America. The Marshall Plan helped rebuild France. I once asked my mother what this meant to her. She said, “After all we had been through, it reminded me that there were still good people in the world.”

By Grace Alone

Transitioning “fistula work” is not easy. Treating obstetric fistula is a service by grace alone, especially if you’re a government worker.

Uganda’s Electronic Databases: From Guesswork to Real Data Management

I used to work at the Registrar of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council where I was the custodian of all information pertaining to the Ugandan nursing cadre. I often felt humbled when people, including those from high-ranking organizations, would come to me seeking data.

Computerized Shortlisting Saves Time and Money, Gets Health Workers Where They Are Needed

The Uganda Capacity Program began collaborating to come up with a better way to quickly recruit, process, and hire qualified health workers.

Pfizer Fellow Reflects on Health Huts, Emailing, and Other Lessons Learned in Senegal

When I first came to Senegal, I did not know at all what to expect. I knew it would be a life-changing experience.

The ‘Fatal Flow’ of Health Worker Migration

More than a year after its devastating earthquake, Haiti is still struggling to recover and rebuild its health system.

Agaïcha's Story

On the sixth day, my uncle took me from the village to the nearest health center, 65 km away. Once we got there, an unskilled health provider pulled the baby out by force. My son was dead. The following day, my torment started: I could not control my bladder anymore.”

A Shout Out to 29 Amazing Zambian Women and 1 Man Caring for Their Community

I met an amazing group of people in Zambia: the Chishilano Home-Based Care Group at the Shelazi Centre. They are a group of about 30 volunteers, who care for people in their community living with HIV/AIDS.