Africa Health Placements
Africa Health Placements (AHP) is a “social-profit” organisation that aims to create equitable access to healthcare in South Africa by reversing the present exodus of health professionals from public healthcare facilities.
Etymology and origin
Africa Health Placements (AHP) is a descriptive title, which refers to the organisation's role as a recruiter of foreign health workers into southern Africa's public health sector. The organisation was formed as a joint venture between the advocacy group, RHI (Rural Health Initiative) and the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) – a private university focused on creating skills for the public health sector in southern Africa.
Activities
AHP is run by a team of recruiters, researchers and advocacy specialists situated in offices in South Africa, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. They communicate with hospital managers across South Africa and then market the opportunity to work in South Africa to health professionals around the world – largely via the web, specialist journals and conferences. A zero-fee placement service is delivered to all qualifying candidates. This includes the management of all necessary immigration administration, as required by the South African Department of Health and the Health Professions Council of South Africa. AHP's recruiters also facilitate the orientation of all health workers that are placed into rural health facilities.
AHP's management also conducts advocacy amongst civil society organisations, private companies and various government bodies, identifying systemic issues that are driving health professionals away from the region, and advising on how to address them.
See also:
- The Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP)
- The Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa (RuDASA)
- The Foundation for Professional Development (FPD)
- The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)