Nevielle Leinyuy’s story is not unique. After completing his nursing training in Cameroon, he spent nearly a decade as a front desk receptionist due to the lack of decent-paying medical jobs. Last year, he decided to seek opportunities abroad and now resides in Canada with his family.
Leinyuy’s experience reflects a broader trend in Cameroon and other sub-Saharan African countries, where low salaries and limited opportunities are driving health workers to seek employment overseas. With Cameroon boasting one of the world’s lowest ratios of health workers per capita, the consequences are dire.
Despite efforts to increase the number of health workers, nearly 75% of African nations still face shortages, exacerbating challenges in addressing infant mortality, infectious diseases, and providing essential healthcare services. Cameroon, in particular, struggles with fewer than seven nurses per 10,000 inhabitants, far below the ratios in neighboring countries like Nigeria and destinations like Canada.
The allure of better opportunities abroad is undeniable. Canada, for example, is experiencing its own health workforce shortages, with over 30,000 nursing positions vacant. While Canada follows ethical recruitment practices outlined by the World Health Organization, including efforts to strengthen health systems in developing countries, the exodus of health workers from countries like Cameroon continues.
Efforts to address the healthcare crisis in Cameroon fall short of needs. Despite Canadian investments in Cameroon’s health ministry and initiatives like the Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity, the country faces significant challenges. The government’s recruitment of only around 100 doctors annually for a population of 28 million people underscores the severity of the situation.
The impact of health worker migration extends beyond staffing shortages. The ongoing separatist conflict in Cameroon’s west has further exacerbated the crisis, rendering more than 210 health facilities non-functional due to destruction or abandonment by personnel.
While Cameroon’s health ministry did not respond to inquiries about the issue, migration consultants like Tumenta Kennedy note Canada’s attractiveness as a destination for health workers. Programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Express Entry actively recruit talent from overseas, including Cameroonians seeking better opportunities.
For individuals like Inès Kingue, a medical lab technician from Douala, the prospect of training opportunities in Canada offers hope for a brighter future. Despite facing challenges and earning meager wages at home, she remains determined to pursue opportunities abroad—a sentiment shared by many health workers in Cameroon and beyond.
