[originaltext]The World Health Organization says 57 nations in Southern Africa

The World Health Organization says 57 nations in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia are facing a serious shortage of health care workers. This crisis is affecting how governments fight diseases and improve health. The WHO says more than four million additional doctors, nurses and other health workers are urgently needed to improve the situation. The warning came in a new WHO report released on World Health Day. The report says the health care crisis is most severe in Southern Africa. The continent has 11% of the world’s population, but only 3% of the world’s health care workers. The report warns that the ability of poor countries to provide important life-saving services is in danger. In addition, many patients are not able to get the treatments they need for diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. WHO officials say part of the problem is caused by rich nations that offer high-paying jobs to doctors and nurses from poor countries. In addition, few trained health care professionals are working where they are needed most. Those in poor countries usually work in cities instead of farming areas. The WHO report provides a ten-year plan to deal with the crisis. It calls for national leadership and new policies for health workers. It also urges more international assistance and foreign aid. The report says that nations facing the most serious shortages must increase health care spending. Effective use of public money for health care was also the subject of an international conference. Researchers presented three books that describe cost-effective answers to health problems in developing countries. They include speed barriers on roads to help reduce the number of traffic accidents.
9. What may be the result of the lack of health care workers?
10. What can we learn from the report?
11. Why is there a lack of health care workers in poor countries?
12. What does the WHO call on for those poor countries?