Background The Village Health Worker (VHW) Program in Zimbabwe was first adopted in 1980 when the country transitioned to primary health care (PHC). VHWs are the first point of contact with the health system and they focus on disease prevention by providing community care at the primary level in rural and peri-urban wards. Implementation VHWs work with and among … [Read more...] about Zimbabwe’s Village Health Worker Program
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Zambia’s Community Health Assistant Program
Zambian Community Health Assistants each provide health promotion and disease prevention to a catchment area of 1,750 residents. Assistants attend a year-long training program whereupon finishing they receive equipment and tools to perform their respective roles. Evidence consistently demonstrates the effectiveness and essential nature of these assistants in supporting Zambian … [Read more...] about Zambia’s Community Health Assistant Program
Uganda’s Village Health Teams Program
Four-member Community Health Worker teams in Uganda provide home visits and health management services for local communities. Limited funding prevents these workers from receiving regular and consistent supervision. However limited their supervision, the impact of each team has enabled the country to achieve reductions in morbidity and mortality among … [Read more...] about Uganda’s Village Health Teams Program
CHWs and the Pandemic Response: A Year in Review
Community health workers across the world served a pivotal role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta was among many who commended CHWs for their essential role during the pandemic (Business Ghana, 2020). But kind words without supportive action contribute little to the challenges faced by CHWs. CHW programs and researchers … [Read more...] about CHWs and the Pandemic Response: A Year in Review
Village Health Volunteers of Thailand
Over 1 million Village Health Volunteers in Thailand provide infectious disease surveillance and other health management services. These volunteers receive over 40 hours of initial training and regular follow-up sessions. As a result of their efforts, Thailand achieved global leadership in reducing deaths among children under five years of age. Background As part of its … [Read more...] about Village Health Volunteers of Thailand