This study evaluated the progress of Mozambique's Community Health Worker (CHW) program, known as Agentes Polivalentes Elementares (APEs), which was restarted in 2010. Conducted in six districts of the Zambézia Province, the study included interviews with 148 APEs to assess their operations. It found that only 48% of APEs restocked their supplies monthly, and there were … [Read more...] about Assessment of community health workers activities in six districts of Zambézia Province, Mozambique
Supplies
Digital Tools for CHWs – Strengthening the community supply chain with data visibility
Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a crucial role in delivering primary health care to remote areas, but they often face challenges with accessing medicines and supplies. Research shows CHWs experience stockouts of essential items much more frequently than health facilities. This technical brief offers guidance to stakeholders—governments, donors, and health organizations—on … [Read more...] about Digital Tools for CHWs – Strengthening the community supply chain with data visibility
Exploring community health worker roles, support, and experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti
In Haiti, CHWs, called “agents de santé communautaire polyvalent” (ASCPs), are the primary deliverers of health information and services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This brief highlights the demographics, services provided, and challenges ASCPs faced during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that ASCPs continued providing health services during … [Read more...] about Exploring community health worker roles, support, and experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti
Resource requirements for community-based care in rural, deep-rural and peri-urban communities in South Africa: A comparative analysis in 2 South African provinces
Inconsistent management of South African CHW programs generally, and ward-based outreach teams WBOTS particularly, derive in part from a lack of policy regulation. Decisions about how to improve programming policy and generate best practices must quantify costs of service delivery for various types of geographical communities. Donela Beseda and colleagues evaluated differences … [Read more...] about Resource requirements for community-based care in rural, deep-rural and peri-urban communities in South Africa: A comparative analysis in 2 South African provinces
Impact of mobile health-enhanced supportive supervision and supply chain management on appropriate integrated community case management of malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia in children 2-59 months: A cluster randomized trial in Eastern Province, Zambia
Poor supply chain management and a lack of supportive supervision represent challenges to successful treatment of childhood illnesses like diarrhoea, malaria, and pneumonia. Godfrey Biemba and his team wanted to know whether a mobile health (mHealth) system could help CHWs monitor medical stock and improve the quality of supervision and mentoring of CHWs. Results indicated that … [Read more...] about Impact of mobile health-enhanced supportive supervision and supply chain management on appropriate integrated community case management of malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia in children 2-59 months: A cluster randomized trial in Eastern Province, Zambia