Missing Health Knowledge

Here is an updated abstract and outline for my paper.  I've switched focus a bit to focus more on health knowledge- collective knowledge- rather than just health professionals.

Abstract:

Health knowledge is a key element in ensuring that communities are resilient- meaning they have the ability to bounce back from a shock or perturbation.  Lack of health knowledge, both indigenous and western, in sub-Saharan Africa severely undermines the ability of African communities to respond to everyday health care needs, as well as during crisis.  This paper will examine health systems in sub-Saharan Africa to understand the underlying causes of the missing health, its cost, and explore innovative solutions to this issue.

Research Questions: 

How have health systems in sub-Saharan Africa evolved?  How can the issue of missing health knowledge be addressed?

Outline:

Introduction

·         Sustainable development needs to build resilience

·         Focus on health as important for ensuring resilience

·         Health knowledge as important factor

·         Lack of health knowledge and expertise undermines a community’s/nation’s ability to react to everyday health needs of a community as well as health needs during a crisis

Health Systems

·         History

·         How have health systems evolved?

Missing Health Knowledge

·         Indigenous vs. western

·         WHO recommendations for doctor-patient ratio

o   Loss of $ for developing countries

o   Lack of health care professionals

§  Poor health

§  Low resilience to health shocks at a household, community, and national level

§  Lack of health knowledge

·         What can be done?

o   Case studies of innovative interventions

o   Required in-country service

o   Local health training- community health workers, especially in rural areas