Is there a doctor in the country?
If you break your leg in Malawi, it might be wise to catch a cab to Tanzania. As if central Africa didn't have enough problems, the AFRICAN EYE NEWS SERVICE reports that a massive brain drain has cost the small country up to 80 percent of its medical professionals, who have headed off to more lucrative jobs in the UK, South Africa, and other nations.
The World Health Organization recommends a doctor for every 12,000 people in developing nations, but the shortage has left the few remaining Malawian doctors caring for about 52,000 people each. The problem extends to every part of the health profession, from nurses to pharmacists.
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