Africa's Deadly Brain Drain - Malawi

Nov 2007
Africa is in the grip of a medical crisis because its doctors are being lured away by lucrative jobs in Europe. Malawi now only has one doctor for every 50,000 people.

"We are working under very difficult conditions. It's like we are in a war", laments Robert Lapyam Ayella, the only doctor at Mulanje District Hospital. As he goes from bed to bed, patients and staff clamour for his attention. But there are too many people for him to see and he lacks the proper drugs and equipment to treat them. "You reach a point of frustration and just say 'what am I doing here?'" In some Malawian hospitals, clinical officers without the proper training are working as doctors or surgeons. "I usually work 24 hour shifts in the emergency department", states clinical officer Stanley Chimabaui. Malawi's few remaining health workers also have to battle an AIDS pandemic. And the problem looks set to get worse. 25% of the country's health staff are expected to die of HIV/AIDS in the next decade. Facing these problems, it's not surprising entire medical classes decide to emigrate to the West, where they can earn 300 -- 400 times more. As one expat Malawian doctor states: "I earn a good wage in England. Why should I go back to Malawi to suffer?"

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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[jenp27]

that volunteer dr is a saint

[fran21ish]

This is why Africa will always be as it is, they all want whats best for themselves and not whats best for everyone(africans), like our kings back in the day, that give us away to the white world for salt and suger just for himself..and look what is going on now with blacks all over world being mistreated..staying home and helping more than a hundred people is pricless..no money can amount to that...NOTE FOR EVERYDAY YOU STAY IN THE UK, YOU COULD HAVE SAVED MANY OF YOUR COUNTRY PEOPLE..

[solidysnake1]

no national pride then there is no sense of personal self sacrifice for one's own country sake, government is too corrupted.. Africa is doomed!

[solidysnake1]

God bless doctor Ayella!

[Atniw]

SMDH...I can't wait to be a physician and to go back home,.

[bass109]

MIRACLES COME FROM JESUS. Ask Jesus to heal, restore, you all. Prayer to god will restore families. Prayer to God is important!

[marioannuza]

Dear Malawi friends,

My name is Mário Annuza; I am Brazilian and I am 33 years old. Since I was a child, I love your country ! Admire your music and collect varied coins. Among them, there is one from Malawi ! Hugs from Brazil,

Mário

[TheBillyJimish]

Can't help you, Captain Shuttlecock... "I yeller". :(

Urm, "mal" is French for ILL ?

Now wait...WORKED FOR YOU at the time. "Tony, I Yellow" ??? HUH? Remember?

"whatever happens DO NOT LEAVE ME". SQUEEK, I like went to the Courts of St James to sit with "Tony, I yellow". Thanks darling, now I'm about to be murdered.

WORKED FOR YOU... hhahahahahahaha....

WHY, oh WHY didn't we "y'all" see the signs? WHHHHHYYYY????? HAHAA :O

[amysinai]

God BLESS you~I LOVE all you BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE~ I SEND LOVELIGHT from my HEART....Blessing's,PEACE~LOVE­~LIGHT~HEALING.....I PRAY UNIVERSE send you all you need.....It is a BALANCE...Go learn, use what you learn, COME BACK, HELP your people in need. The meaning of life is to have LOVE in your heart. We must have more COMPASSION , END suffering others, help our brothers and sisters...We all need to LOVE, HELP ONE ANOTHER more...