IntraHealth Improves Health Care in 37 Countries, Reaches 221,000 Health Workers in 2016

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a step toward making high-quality health care available to more people around the world, 221,226 health workers in 37 countries gained training or other support through IntraHealth International's programs in 2016. These health workers are now improving the quality of health care in their communities and making services available to more people, including in the hardest-to-reach areas. See the full results at www.intrahealth.org/AnnualReport2016.

The World Health Organization projects a shortage of 18 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Without greater investments to address this gap, our progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals?including universal health care?could be delayed.

"We're working hard at IntraHealth to build local capacity and address the health workforce crisis sustainably," says Pape Gaye, president and CEO of IntraHealth. "Every day, health workers save lives, keep us safe from disease outbreaks and pandemics, and boost our economic well-being. Investing in them is one of the smartest, most cost-effective moves any country can make."

IntraHealth's work with health workers in 2016 led to the following results:

• 91% of beds in Senegal covered by insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria transmission?up from 8% in 2015
• 423,744 people tested for HIV, and 108,408 HIV-positive individuals provided with antiretroviral treatment
• 953,925 years of protection from unwanted pregnancies provided to couples through contraceptives
• 81,877 health workers trained in family planning, maternal and child health, HIV and other critical areas
• 12,351 health workers in West Africa connected through mobile technology to stem emerging health threats such as Ebola
• 34,984 health workers trained in new technologies for health care delivery
• 9,330 health professional students provided with low-interest student loans as of 2016 through the Afya Elimu Fund in Kenya

IntraHealth believes everyone everywhere should have the health care they need to thrive. Its mission is to improve the performance of health workers and strengthen the systems in which they work.

SOURCE IntraHealth International