By Dr. Sakui W. G. Malakpa
Malakpa, Sakui W. G. Prof. (2005). Turning brain drain into brain gain. Liberian Studies Journal, XXX (2), 29-39.
It has been postulated that a major impediment to Africa’s socio-economic development is the incessant flow of skilled human resources from the continent to the developed world (Nyikuli, 1999; Kigotho, 2002; Mutume, 2003). The contention is that this flow (referred to as the “brain drain”) depletes Africa of intellectuals/scholars, medical and health personnel, engineers, scientists, etc., who are needed to contribute to the development of the continent (Devan, & Tewari, 2001; Kigotho, 2002; Mutume, 2003). Some observers attribute this “drain” to several factors. For instance, it is alleged that the African intelligentsia are greedy gravy seekers who turn their backs on the countries that educated them although such countries need them (Shikwati, 2000; Malakpa, 2005). Other observers charge that brains flow out of Africa because developed countries are insensitive, callous, and rapacious in their bid to enhance their development further irrespective of how draining hurts the developing world. For example, some have accused Britain of poaching intellectuals and health workers from Africa. Still, other observers argue that sometimes (if not often), brains are not “drained” but “driven” by the developing world (Nyikuli, 1999; Shikwati, 2000; Tebeje, 2005; Malakpa, 2005). Whether Africa’s skilled human resources are “drained” by the developed world or “driven” by African countries, the truth remains that the departure of skilled human resources negatively affects socio-economic development in Africa (Nyikuli, 1999; Devan & Tewari, 2001). Based on this realization, it is necessary to discuss the extent of the brain drain problem and briefly touch on its causes. Furthermore, this work will cover the Liberian situation, first arguing that the “drain” is not a total loss. Additionally, this work will show howLiberiacan benefit from strategies and approaches employed in other places to turn the brain drain into a brain gain.
Magnitude of the Problem: Kigotho (2002) accentuates that the departure of skilled professionals from sub-Saharan Africa poses a serious concern because the loss of such persons to the developed world is a major threat to the region’s economic development. When this topic was discussed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa, it was disclosed that in less than twenty years, sub-Saharan Africa “lost a third of its skilled professionals and had to replace them with over 100,000 expatriates from the West at a cost of US$4 billion a year” (Kigotho, 2002, p1; Mutume, 2003). It was further disclosed that “between 1985 and 1990 Africa lost over 60,000 middle-level and high-level managers to Western economies. In addition, about 23,000 lecturers from African universities emigrate each year. The biggest migratory flows are from Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana in that order” (Kigotho 2002, p2). The flow of skilled professionals from Africa affects every sector of development. However, “The UN Development Programme (UNDP) notes that in Africa, the loss of medical doctors has been the most striking” (Mutume, 2003, p1). Along this line, Pang, Lansang, & Haines (2002) generally point out that “migration of medical professionals from developing countries has become a major concern. This brain drain worsens the already depleted healthcare resources in poor countries and widens the gap in health inequities worldwide” (p1).
As a result there is blood flow into the penile region gets hampered. buy levitra viagra Male enhancement supplement can only improve your sex life and satisfies your partner but no thrusting, and the last stage is now the djpaulkom.tv purchase generic viagra thrusting. More importantly, whether, you are buying generic meds from a web chemist then it has a natural gift also with cheapest viagra tablets it. Key ingredients in Night Fire capsules are the best herbal remedies for sexual weakness in men are past sexual trauma, tiredness, anxiety, cheapest tadalafil online stress, negative feelings, fear and depression. The constant flow of medical doctors and health personnel out of Africa is illustrated by the finding that, although health and medical needs are humongous in Africa, a third to one-half of graduates from South African medical schools emigrate to the developed world (Pan, Lansang, & Haines, 2002). Canada offers attractive salaries and benefits in a bid to hire a large number of these doctors. Consequently, South Africa strongly appealed to the government of Canada to desist from recruiting its medical professionals. South Africa’s concern and subsequent appeal were justified because, in Canada’s rural province of Saskatchewan alone, “more than 50 per cent of doctors are foreign trained and at least 1 in 5 of the 1,530 doctors there earned their first medical degree in South Africa“(Mutume, 2003, p5). In West Africa, “at least 60 per cent of doctors trained in Ghana during the 1980s have left the country” (Mutume, 2003, p1). In like manner, there are 22,000 Nigerian medical doctors in the US alone (UNCDF, 2005). The flight of health and medical personnel out of Africa is not limited to doctors alone. This is exemplified by the finding that 18000 Zimbabwean nurses seek employment abroad (Pan et al, 2002). In education, African schools continue to lose qualified teachers to the developed world(www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1173620.stm, 2001). However, this problem is not limited to primary and secondary schools. At the tertiary level, university professors, skilled researchers, and qualified staff members incessantly stream out of Africa for positions abroad (Shikwati, 2000; Nyikuli, Akpotu & Nwadiani, 2002). Likewise, in social work, the Zimbabwe National Association of Social Workers estimates that “1,500 of the country’s 3,000 trained social workers left for the UK during the last 10 years” (Mutume, 2003, p5).
Reasons for the Continuous Flight of Human Capital: Although brain drain is a major impediment to socio-economic development in Africa, this flow of skilled human resources continues because of a number of factors. For instance, as pointed out earlier, it is alleged that the African intelligentsia and skilled individuals leave the continent (as greedy gravy seekers) in search of greener pastures abroad (Kigotho, 2002; Malakpa, 2005). Other fingers point to governments of the developed world who poach developing countries of their skilled human resources. However, overwhelmingly, the literature attributes the success of brain drain to problems and poor conditions in developing countries. For example, it is contended that, “limited job opportunities and education facilities, a lower standard of living and security, and lack of professional recognition are among the factors that have caused many African workers, especially those with professional skills, to seek work outside the continent” (Nyikuli, 1999, p1). Referring to the departure of medical and health workers fromAfrica, Pang, Lansang, and Haines (2002) cite key causes such as “poor remuneration, bad working conditions, an oppressive political climate, persecution of intellectuals, and discrimination. Researchers cite lack of funding, poor facilities, limited career structures, and poor intellectual stimulation” (p499). Other personal reasons for skilled personnel emigrating fromAfricainclude “security, the threat of violence, and the wish to provide a good education for their children” (Pang et al, 2002, p.499).
While personal reasons for the flight of skilled human capital from Africa are always a consideration, such reasons seem to be outweighed by the fear, threat, or possibility of political persecution. For example, Amnesty International, a highly respected human rights organization, presents a 2001 annual report covering North Africa and the Middle-East to show that, gross human right violations took place throughout much of the Middle East and North Africa. They ranged from extrajudicial executions to widespread use of torture and unfair trials, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders. Freedom of expression and association continued to be curtailed; the climate of impunity remained and the victims were still awaiting steps to bring those responsible for past human rights violations to justice (Amnesty International Report, 2001, p2). The Amnesty International Report (2001) cites specific country examples from North Africa which are not much different (if at all) from other parts of Africa. In Algeria, the security forces enjoy impunity in the midst of violence and disappearances. Yet, no independent and impartial investigations are carried out to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. In Egypt, torturing occurs in police stations with people dying in prison under mysterious circumstances. Thousands of people are imprisoned under conditions which are tantamount to “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” (Amnesty International Report, 2001, p3). At the same time, human right defenders are targeted; they are harassed and legally restricted (Amnesty International Report).
The targeting of human right defenders has escalated in Tunisia where at least a thousand political prisoners (most of them prisoners of conscience) languish behind bars. Likewise, in Libya, hundreds of political prisoners are behind bars without charges or trials, and political prisoners are routinely tortured. In Morocco, there are arbitrary arrests and disappearances and yet, perpetrators are not brought to trial. There is constant violation of freedom of expression and consequent imprisonment of prisoners of conscience (Amnesty International Report, 2001).