Research

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“I think if one is true to oneself and give yourself space and time to just ask the questions as to what else is needed? And how do we do this? What is it that we can do? And you find the solutions and you go for it. And you mustn’t give up faith and trust in that intervention, especially when people are benefitting from it. It’s one of these universal laws that if we look after other people well and as best as we can with integrity and honesty, you are on the right track. The possibilities that open when you are doing this, it’s like amazing. So you always know that, one thing I’ve learnt is that there will always be space to be innovative, when it comes to helping other people and that in itself is immensely rewarding.”

– Dr Ashraf Grimwood, Founder and CEO, Kheth’Impilo

Pharmacy Assistants Programme

How could the youth bulge in sub-Saharan Africa be harnessed to overcome severe shortages in the health and social sector workforce? The WHO projects a global gap of 18 million health workers by 2030, primarily in low and middle-income countries, threatening to roll back gains in controlling the HIV epidemic. At the same time, many African countries are searching for solutions to a massive and growing employment crisis, as job creation is not keeping pace with the increasing population of youth entering the labor force. Adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected, while also facing higher risk for HIV than males of the same age. South Africa is a prime example of these trends, with broader relevance in Africa and other low and middle-income countries.

When asked about careers in health and social services, many youth think first of jobs as doctors or nurses that require years of higher education. Yet more accessible opportunities are emerging across the health and social sectors and associated value chains, in fields such as pharmacy, phlebotomy (drawing blood), and community health work. Many offer strong potential for advancement and professional development, especially for young women. Presenters will share learning about emerging jobs and career pathways for youth, while also taking a frank look at the systemic barriers that can exclude youth or limit advancement. We will discuss implications for youth employment programs, whether specifically focused on health and social services or more generally on skill development or employment. This webinar is based on research from USAID's Youth Power Action South Africa Health Workforce Assessment.

Kheth’Impilo had success with some of its programmes being rated among the top social innovations globally by the WHO/TDR and Oxford University in partnership with UCT and the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation.

Kheth’Impilo once again received international acclaim with the Pharmacy Assistant programme in regards to human resources for health which is prominently featured in the South Africa Health Workforce Assessment (USAID, 2018).

Research

Peer Reviewed Publications

Oral Conference Presentations

Posters Presented