Erick Mahatara, Ambassador and Scholar at Cancer Fight Tanzania, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“When the Healers Need Healing: A Silent Crisis in Our Health System.
Last time attending one of the clinical conference at KCMC Referral Hospital, this topic got stuck in my mind: ‘Are Health Workers Healthy?’
In every community, health workers are expected to be the torchbearers of wellness, champions of healthy living, early screening, and disease prevention. They guide families, counsel patients, and drive national health initiatives. Yet, a difficult truth remains: many health workers themselves are not practicing the very habits they advocate.
Across Tanzania and much of Africa, we see a rising number of healthcare workers silently battling preventable illnesses, hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and other non-communicable diseases.
Paradoxically, the same people urging patients to attend clinics, get screened, exercise, and eat healthy are often unable to follow these recommendations themselves. Whether due to heavy workloads, burnout, stress, limited time, or systemic gaps, many health professionals delay or completely miss routine checkups. And the biggest challenge? We lack strong data to understand the barriers behind this worrying trend.
This is not just a personal issue, it is a national health systems issue.
When health workers fall sick, the entire system feels the strain. The present health system becomes overloaded, and the future becomes uncertain. Communities lose trusted counselors, hospitals lose skilled hands, and training institutions lose role models. If those expected to lead prevention are themselves unwell, how can society confidently follow?
This crisis invites an urgent reflection:
Can we build a sustainable health system when the caretakers themselves are unwell?
The health of our frontline workforce is the health of our nation. To create resilient systems, communities, and future generations, we must begin prioritizing the well-being of health workers, physically, mentally, and socially.
A moment of reflection, lets talk together..
What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing healthcare workers from taking part in routine medical check-ups?”
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