Africa Recruit is currently organising a conference in London to discuss ways to mobilize African expatriate healthcare professionals for Africa.

Meanwhile governments in Africa face a dilemma. They have thousands of newly trained graduates without jobs, but they are recruiting health care professionals from the developed world.

Is Africa ready as a destination for global recruitment? Should African governments retrain jobless locals and convert their skills?

This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments.

Your comments:

My approach to the problem of brain drain is simple and almost counter intuitive. Start today by teaching civic responsibility, honesty, creativity and leadership to the children in kindergarten and elementary school today and they will challenge the status quo tomorrow. Money and jobs do not bring happiness. It is the sense of duty and fulfilment attained in a productive environment that matters. This approach will require people with vision who are not afraid to try.
Kwamina Nyarko, USA

It seems everyone is blaming the governments and politicians. I think professionals in the diaspora should look for ways of helping their countries and this can be through Civil Society Organisations, which will in turn create jobs not only for them but for the communities. Many Europeans and Americans have projects (both individuals and groups), why cant we initiate our own projects and then explore ways of funding it which am sure is available.
Musoke Deo, Uganda/Belgium

I am a Ghanaian receiving education in the US. I agreed with the organization paying my tuition that I would return to Africa and work. I think the same is true for a number of my close friends and we intend to reverse this brain drain, with the Lord's help.
Adwoa, Ghana

If our knowledge lies dormant it becomes useless Dee Okang, Ghanaian in New York City

Most of us really want to come home. The education provided in Ghana is excellent, but good jobs are scarce. If our knowledge lies dormant it becomes useless.
Dee Okang, Ghanaian in New York City

Most migrants are people seeking self-actualisation. Medical doctors have to engage in medicine to the fullest extent possible; nurses have to do nursing with all the support and rewards; scientists have to be scientists, publish and do research. When all this is fulfilled, then people will seek self-transcendence. They will yearn for spiritual fulfilment and this will naturally take them back to their respective countries. This is human nature.
Claudius Mundoma, US/Zimbabwe

As one of the few eye specialist doctors working in Malawi, I believe the solution is simple, pay us a bit more and we will stay and deliver. Why waste resources by recruiting expatriates when we are capable of doing the same service? Global recruitment is not the solution!
Dr Khumbo Kalua, Malawi

We are actually developing our special skills and when things get better, we will go back Boyo Atabong, USA

I do not think that this problem is as big as the media makes it seem to be. Many young men and women I went to school with in Cameroon have a university education and with nothing to do. They have developed drinking problems. Many female colleagues are offering themselves for money. I think that most of us love our country and we are actually developing our special skills and when things get better, we will go back.
Boyo Atabong, USA

Once someone has taken the time, trouble and expense to train as a doctor, lawyer, engineer or whatever, they usually want to settle down to a professional career and raising a family. If they feel that they are likely to lose everything they have built up because of political instability, rampant crime or corrupt officialdom, they will simply move to a more stable country. The fact is that the professional middle classes are the most mobile people in the world. They will go where there are good opportunities and safe places to live.
Stephen James, London, UK

Reversing Africa brain drain is a farfetched idea. If the government can recognise its own talents and furnish them with the necessary equipments and a good pay package, it can reverse one out of ten brain drains.
Eric Mbumbouh, Bamenda, Cameroon

As a scientist, I am as good as nothing if I am unable to mix A and B to get C Kenneth Ihenetu, USA

Given the adequate working conditions - salaries, incentives, security - I will be back home. As a scientist, I am as good as nothing if I am unable to mix A and B to get C. However, east or west home is the best.
Kenneth Ihenetu, Louisville, USA

To address such an enormous issue demands some amount of ingenuity. There is no generic solution to this pervasive threat. Like India, we must maximize the benefits from the health care workers from abroad as we strive to face the numerous health challenges facing the continent.
Ekow Koomson, Massachusetts

If our government can wake up to the reality that professionals need modern equipments, good working condition, reasonable pay check, and assurance of future for their children, I am sure people will love to come home and work.
Yusuf Niyi, Warri, Nigeria

It is rather unfortunate that a continent with all the vast human and material resources should remain at such a pathetic position. Indeed, the loss of African professionals in the healthcare sector is one loss too many. But I think there is hope as more and more countries become democratic, there is the hope that the African leadership would one day realize how important it is not only to cater adequately for these professionals but also pay appropriately for their services.
Danladi Hassan Kobi, Abuja, Nigeria.

There are many like me in the diaspora that would like to go back and help our country Nebiy, Ethiopia/USA

Governments need to remove economic restrictions, eliminate corruption, and, implement democratic reforms to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship. This is the only way to create jobs and encourage growth. In the case of Ethiopia, the government has refused to implement democratic reforms. The extremely inefficient telecommunication as well as the power sectors should be privatised - Ethiopia has been left trailing the likes of Somalia in cell phone penetration rate.

The government has also refused to liberalize land ownership policies. There are many Ethiopians like me in the diaspora that would like to go back and help our country. At the moment, however, given the conditions I have described, we would have to risk a lot to go back and contribute.
Nebiy, Ethiopian, USA

I am returning home to Ethiopia and will teach the kids around my village free. I know the company I work for now may not miss me, but I will put in use a lot of things I learnt in the west.
Wendu Regassa Awash, Ethiopia/USA

Governments always complain there is no money to pay graduates, but there is money to buy arms and to pay lazy and unproductive politicians and therefore I do not blame Africans who leave Africa to work overseas.
Jayze Jantjies, South Africa

Good governance should be the first step to stem the loss of skilled manpower from Africa. Work to reduce or eliminate corruption and bureaucracy in governments. Create a conducive environment for political stability and peace. Economic prosperity will follow. Investment will come and lead in raising incomes.
Stephen Kats, Denver, Colorado, USA

We should be thinking of increasing the number of medics trained Ali A. Garba, Nigeria

Of course, the pull factor for brain drain is insurmountable, while the push factor can be overcome over time. But this requires dogged commitment beyond retraining the jobless. The educational system needs to be made more accessible and affordable right from primary level, with particular emphasis on science education. To be realistic, we should be thinking of increasing the number of medics trained and not reversing the trend. After all, the likely decreasing trend of population of the destination countries suggests more reliance on migrant labour.
Ali A. Garba, Jos, Nigeria

Africa is unfortunately in the grip of dictators who always think that knowledge generates from political power. Let the rich western leaders stop supporting dictators in Africa. Then we will see brain drain reversed to some degree.
Woloyew, Dessie, Ethiopia

Africa is ready for global recruitment. Our problem is the priority of our governments. For them, all that matters is politics and politicians. No one cares to know that tens of thousands of our youths are roaming the streets in search of jobs - young, talented and skilled. The government, when interested, goes outside to pick expatriates who they believe have the skills. What is wrong with retraining our jobless locals and converting their skills? The only reason for the exodus of youths out of Africa is just to secure a livelihood which the various governments can offer if properly planned for.
Chinasa, Lagos, Nigeria

African leaders have seen professionals as a threat to their rule Anthony Musonda, Zambia/Germany

Oppressive and corrupt African leaders have always seen professionals as a threat to their rule. They are therefore too happy to underpay them and see them leave the continent. Western governments might as well channel some of their aid directly to institutions in Africa that suffer the most from brain drain.
Anthony Musonda, Zambian, Munich, Germany

Reversing brain drain to brain gain is indeed a hard nut to crack. African governments should change their attitude toward their professionals. They should try their level best to motivate their professionals, so that they can uplift the well-being of their societies.
Jamaludin Hassan Mohamed, Islamabad, Pakistan

There is much for professionals to do in Africa but there isn't much to gain.
Sylvester Odi Ihunnia, Owerri, Nigeria

With better working conditions and a good pay check, the tide can be reversed Ngol'esueh Divine, Yaound� Cameroon

Reversing Africa's brain drain is difficult but not impossible. With better working conditions and a good pay check, the tide can be reversed.
Ngol'esueh Divine, Yaound� Cameroon

The basic reason why a lot of professionals seek greener pastures is because of lack of incentives such as good salary and other benefits. Presently, I do not see Africa as a destination for global recruitment. Everyone wants to be able to support themselves and their families with their income. Unless the conditions of employment improves, Africa will continue to experience brain drain. There is no short cut to it.
Omorodion Osula, Boston, USA