Leadership and organisational justice : propostions for improving human resources for health outcomes in the public sector in Uganda - a case for Sub-Sahara Africa

Abstract

Background and Justification: The health situation of Africans has been suggested as one of the most critical impediments to the economic development of the region (Kaseje, Juma, & Oindo; 2005). Healthcare workers are crucially pivotal in advancing the health status of any society (WHO, 2006). The exodus of qualified professionals in the face of so much health need condemns Africa to the epicentre of the global human resources for health crisis. Withstanding the limited supply of qualified healthcare workers in Africa, there are questions about the capability of the available human resources stock to provide quality healthcare (The Africa Working Group of the Joint Learning Initiative, 2006). One of the explanations (WHO Regional Office for Africa, 2007) for the prevalent inefficiency of healthcare systems in Africa is that the performance of healthcare workers tends to fall way below their competence levels due to lack of motivation. Apart from poor pay, leadership is being advanced as one of the major causes of healthcare worker demotivation and therefore a “missing link”. According to The Africa Working Group of the Joint Learning Initiative (2006), “leadership and stewardship of health systems in Africa are a recurring factor in health workers’ frustration”. And there have been numerous calls in healthcare to strengthen leadership in the sector, for example the Accra Agenda for Action and the Africa Leadership Forum.