The contribution of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative to Africa's renewal

Abstract

African countries gained independence from colonialism five decades ago with high expectations. Initial positive achievements were not sustained, however, and the continent slumped on many fronts. Medical schools were not spared: Many declined, became inward looking, and suffered from massive migration of health professionals to richer countries, commonly known as "brain drain." For more than a decade, however, Africa has been experiencing a renewal, backed by a more accountable African Union and a strong global movement for equity and social justice. The Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a $130-million, 5-year award to 13 African medical schools by the U.S. government, arrived at an opportune time and is poised to contribute to Africa's transformation, provided that it continues to focus on capacity building, locally relevant research, retention, sustainability, and strengthening of health systems. MEPI also needs to distill and share its many successes with country governments and join existing regional and global health workforce institutions to reach African leaders at all levels. MEPI will represent another legacy of support to Africa, similar to the taming of the HIV pandemic but on a bigger scale of catalyzing the creation of a new generation of transformative African leaders.