“There is an obvious need for healthcare professionals all over the world and our interest is to add to the existing number. The adequate supply of health care professionals has been a serious issue for developed countries in the last few decades.
“In the United States (US) a 20 per cent deficit in the registered nurse workforce was forecasted in 2020 if current trends were not reversed. Across the European Union, more than half of the physicians were aged over 45 in 2000; in Norway, the average age of dentists was 62.
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In developing countries, the Vice-Chancellor said they struggle to produce and retain a sufficiently qualified health care workforce. He said: ”Around 36 African countries do not meet targets of one doctor per 5,000 people and even in non-conflict affected countries such as Zambia and Ghana, there is only one doctor for more than 10,000 people.
“The global health care profession employs an estimated 100 million people but is not attracting enough new recruits in both developed and developing countries alike.
”According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Sub-Saharan African faces the greatest challenges. While it has 11 per cent of the world’s population and 24 per cent of the global burden of disease, it has only 3 per cent of the world’s health workers.
“Novena University is here to fill the gap in the shortage of medical personnel nationally and internationally as we commence admission for the 2021/2022 academic session.”