Less-qualified can help fight HIV

In developing nations with severe shortages of doctors and nurses, less-qualified health workers should be allowed greater responsibilities in providing care for HIV/Aids patients, the World Health Organization recommended Tuesday.

Doing so would improve patient access to treatment, the WHO said. It noted that at least 57 countries, mostly in Africa, coping with large HIV/AIDS outbreaks face severe shortages of health workers, Agence France-Presse reported.

"Doctors and nurses are essential but countries cannot afford to wait years while they complete their training," said Anders Nordstrom, the WHO's assistant director of health systems.

"Task shifting not only addresses the two interlinked emergencies of the health worker crisis and the HIV/Aids pandemic, but also offers long-term potential for strengthening health systems in a way that is consistent with the current renaissance in primary health-care services," said Nordstrom, AFP reported. – (HealthDayNews)

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HIV/Aids Centre

January 2008