When Aid Harms….

[Jacaylbaro]

Aid groups in general do an important job, and medical interventions have a better record than many other kinds — just think of vaccinations, or oral rehydration therapy. But one problem with medical aid groups is that they typically hire doctors and nurses and turn them into administrators — and in African countries with very few doctors, the result is even fewer people treating patients. The upshot is that the aid group may end up doing more harm than good.

 

This problem has been long noted and discussed, without much being being done about it. Today I received an email from Edna Adan, a woman whom I hugely admire, who runs a maternity hospital in Somaliland. Naka Nathaniel and I did a video about her a couple of years ago, and she also figures into a book that my wife and I are writing about women in the developing world. Here’s what Edna said:

 

I am writing to you in desperation because we have lost ten of our best qualified nurses and midwives to International NGOs who do not support us during the training but who snatch the best from us with salary offers that we cannot match. Somehow, we seem to have become victims of our success because our nurses are the best in the country. We train four times what our hospital needs but still cannot cover the demand for good and responsible nurses. My greatest need is for Nurse/Midwife trainers for the next couple of years so that I can get the current 70 students in training graduated. We would welcome Interns to teach English, basic Sciences, and if possible, Nursing subjects. We are also willing to pay a salary of $800 a month plus food and accommodation to qualified midwife trainers, as well as the air ticket.

 

One step to a solution must be much more pressure on NGO’s and UN agencies that hire away doctors and nurses in poor countries, particularly for administrative jobs. Another step has to be more training of doctors and nurses, perhaps producing people with degrees that do not easily transfer to other countries. Right now there are more Ethiopian doctors in the Washington DC area than in Ethiopia, and this brain drain amounts to a subsidy from poor countries to rich ones.

 

I’ve often recommended that young people go and live abroad for a time, the better to understand the world — and also the better to see their own country. Somaliland is a wonderful little country, and I can’t imagine a more remarkable experience than spending a year teaching at Edna’s hospital.

 

 

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[ilax]

Brain dainage of professionals is said to be one of the fsctors keeping under-developed countries not to develope. However, the fleeing professional from developing to the developed countries is not with out reason. Some says it is 'security factor' that makes the professionals to flee, others blame 'bad governance' in develping countries , particularly SSA, that bushes the professionals to migrate.Lack of basic infarastractures is an other isues.

 

But, JB, Somalis are least effected on this syndrome, the worry on Somali Should be 'lack state'that provides basic services. No effective basic services such as education, health and water supply exist in the county. Therefore, in the future there won'n be professionals at all, leave alone brain-drainage.

The question, how the prospective Somali goverment, if there will be a goverment at all, could manage the accumulating basic socail services problems.

[cynical lady]

"Somaliland is a wonderful little country, and I can’t imagine a more remarkable experience than spending a year teaching at Edna’s hospital."

 

mhhh.. BRB

[Jacaylbaro]

I don't know about Somalia in that particular issue but here in Somaliland, the major problem is the salary scale. Looks like the professionals are on the ground but they can do nothing when he/she is hired by the UN/NGO with a high pay job then make him/her busy as hell.

 

We are now organizing a public forum to discuss this issue Soon Insha Allah.

[Coloow]

The whole notion of aid is based on the belief that some people would remain at the lower end of the economic ladder.

 

AID is what keeping many african dictators in power. It is the main reason why Somaliland wants recognition and probably the only reason why somalia is still in shambles. When aid floods into a nation, the people become passive and corruption rises. There are numerous studies on the positive relationship between under development and aid.

 

The philosphical underpinnings for aid as a tool of development is one that is purely based on evolution. It is assumed that there is a natural selection that has taken place.

[Yaabka-Yaabkiis]

maasha allah Adna is decent woman--i like her comments, if somaliland can stop brain drainage or attract their educated persons outside somaliland i hope they will be successful sooner or latter.

[Coloow]

Yaabka Yaabkiisa, do you sincerely blv that it is educated persons that build a nation? Brain drain will never stop as long as there is an economic disparity between nations.

 

To me Adna just sounds like another african politician. She should instead have advocated for the consumtion of home-grown food, maro or dirac, used a donkey to her job etc.

 

Inta kale waa dhereg dhacsi maandhow.

[Yaabka-Yaabkiis]

Baadiyow, In Somalai Brain drainage is not issue on ground now.

"do you sincerely blv that it is educated persons that build a nation?"

why do u ask such question sxb?

Somliz need patriotic educated ppl to be source of change in solving endless somali tough times then next step might be to attract human capital(knowledge).

[Yaabka-Yaabkiis]

Baadiyow, In Somalai Brain drainage is not issue on ground now.

"do you sincerely blv that it is educated persons that build a nation?"

why do u ask such question sxb?

Somliz need patriotic educated ppl to be source of change in solving endless somali tough times then next step might be to attract human capital(knowledge).

"To me Adna just sounds like another african politician. She should instead have advocated for the consumtion of home-grown food, maro or dirac, used a donkey to her job etc".

she is trying her best to develop somaliland health industry--i dont know that is how i get after reading her comment.

[ilax]

Originally posted by J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o:

I don't know about Somalia in that particular issue but here in Somaliland, the major problem is the salary scale.

 

We are now organizing a public forum to discuss this issue Soon Insha Allah.

Public forum can be part of that, but it is more advisable to conduct study on this issue on why the scant skilled workers are leaving from this province. Then, you may get an interesting result that serves as an input for your decission, may be.

[Jacaylbaro]

That is a good idea ,, thanks