Adapting Strategies from Exemplar Countries in Community Health to Combat COVID-19
As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, countries are tirelessly working to contain the virus and prevent disruptions to critical primary healthcare services, including vaccinations and routine care for mothers, children, and families affected by communicable diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, as well as non-communicable diseases. Past crises have…
The Guatemala Community Health Worker Program
After the signing of the 1996 Peace Accord, Guatemala’s health system created the Comprehensive Health Care System (Sistema Integral de Atencion en Salud, or SIAS). Mobile Health Team let by NGOs and made up of a physician or professional nurse, auxiliary nurse, Rural Health Technician, and CHW served jurisdictions across…
Ghana’s Community Health Officers and Community Health Volunteers
Ghana established the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) policy in 1999. CHPS which outlines two different cohorts of CHWs. The first cohort is comprised of full-time, paid Community Health Officers (CHOs) who provide reproductive health, minor health treatment, and health education, among other services. The second cohort of CHWs,…
Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program
Ethiopia’s launch of its Health Extension Program in 2004 further fortified its longstanding engagement of CHWs. Two Health Extension Workers (HEWs) are assigned to each kebele, the lowest administrative unit with about 1,000 households. They operate at their posts and in the community to provide education, immunizations, and curative services….
The Community Health Agent Program of Brazil
Brazil’s Family Health Strategy Program organizes Family Health Teams composed of a physician, nurse, nurse assistant, and several Community Health Agents (CHAs). The number of CHAs and the Family Health Teams’ breadth of work varies depending on the area, but most of the teams administer promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative…