The Role of African Nursing Scholars in Strengthening Health Systems across the Continent

Abstract

Strengthening a health system is a process that involves a number of changes, initiatives and strategies aimed at improving one or more of the functions of any sub-systems. Several measures are required to ensure that health systems fulfil their core functions. Of more relevance to this article are “the right number and mix of health workers with the appropriate skills, and timely and reliable information, research evidence and capabilities in knowledge management” (WHO, 2010:4). The purpose of this article is to stimulate the interest of the African nursing scholars to engage in the production and dissemination of best practice evidence to support African public policy-makers in their efforts to strengthening health systems. The article looks at the contextual determinants of strengthening health systems in Africa. It concludes by providing the rationale and benefits of the involvement of African nursing scholars in the production and dissemination of best practice evidence to support strengthening health systems in the African context.