International cooperation in Africa—problems and achievements

Abstract

The prohibitive cost of communication, lack of basic infrastructure, inadequate access to health literature and drastic reductions in subscriptions to health sciences journals have hindered the effective utilization of information in Africa. The result has been an inability to keep abreast of health research, even when it is conducted on the African continent or even at country level. Thus, health professionals have been forced to plan without facts and figures, to make decisions based upon out‐dated information or no information at all.This not withstanding, there have been some achievements. Efforts are being made by health information professionals to break down the barriers and build bridges to improve health information access and dissemination.The efforts made by the AHILA (Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa) and its partners, through cooperative and supportive activities in enhancing access to health information, are discussed.