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The second week of April is “World Health Worker Week” globally, and “National Public Health Week” in the US. These events give us a chance to reflect on the important roles of medical and public health workers in making all our lives healthier and better.
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If you are inspired by these CHWs express your support for frontline health workers! The REAL Awards organizers (the Frontline Health Workers Coalition and Save the Children) have set up websites where you can take action: |
The REAL awards were established “to celebrate and accelerate the lifesaving work of health workers everywhere.” It recognizes dedicated frontline health workers in various categories, including community health workers.One event taking place during the week is the ceremony to celebrate the recipients of the 2014 REAL Awards, which takes place on April 9 in a room at the US Senate. The people being honored are not politicians, however; they are “frontline health workers who are saving lives very day.” Some of the winners will be receiving their trophies at that ceremony. But REAL award winners are from 13 countries, so others will be awarded their trophies in upcoming ceremonies in their home countries.
CHW Central interviewed three of the seven remarkable CHWs who are receiving a 2014 REAL Award to find out more about their work and what motivates a great CHW.
Here are some of their comments:
Mairamou Hamandjouma in Godola, Cameroon
Mairamou Hamandjouma’s energy comes through even on a crackly long-distance phone call. For over seven years, Mairamou has been working to promote the health of her community in Godola, Cameroon. Her passions include supporting vulnerable children, including orphans, promoting nutrition, supporting people infected and affected by HIV, and in doing peer education and sensitization. “Reaching vulnerable children is my preoccupation,” she says. She works on preventing malnutrition with the Red Cross, and with the organization Education Fights AIDS (EFA) she serves as the president of an association of young people living with HIV. Mairamou has helped other communities to establish similar groups.
The work is not easy – Mairamou finds that the constant movement of people in and out of the community makes reaching people with health and behavior change messages a constant struggle. Plus she has her own challenges with transportation around the community.
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| Mairamou (in pale blue) and other peer educators conducting public outreach in Mokolo market |
But, she notes, she believes that she was selected for the REAL Award “because of the results I’ve achieved.” She has seen “real change” in the community over the years, people’s attitudes to OVC have shifted, and this keeps her motivated.
The recognition she receives from the community also helps: “They see us everywhere!” she says of herself and her fellow peer educators. People are referred to her and the organization for support and accompaniment. Meeting in the group, getting additional trainings and working together keeps her and her fellow peer community health workers active.
“I’m very, very proud,” she exclaims, reflecting on being named as one of the REAL Award winners. Mairamou says to the world, “Here is my work – if you have things to share, let’s work together!”
Kim Artis in Chicago, Illinois, US
Kim Artis is a dedicated Community Health Educator who specializes in asthma. She works at the Sinai Urban Health Institute, of the Sinai Health System in Chicago, IL, providing comprehensive asthma education to families in her community.
Her work is critical. Kim explains: “The Westside communities of Chicago face asthma rates up to three times the national rate. When I understood the severity of the asthma disparity in my community, I knew I had to do something. I knew I could make a difference.” Kim witnessed how her community members were suffering and saw that many people’s frequent visits to the Emergency Department for asthma and severe symptoms often were a result of not having understood their doctor’s instructions on how to manage asthma.
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| Kim with a three year old client during a home visit. Kim gives kids stickers to reward them for managing their asthma effectively; this little girl decided to share hers with Kim. |
After participating in an intensive training, Kim began serving as the bridge between the medical system and her clients. Kim sees approximately 100-130 clients and their families for a year-long intervention, involving the whole family to improve adherence to medication regimens and reduce asthma episodes. She says, “My families felt like prisoners, too frightened to go outside. I helped them manage their asthma and they felt empowered.”
Kim spends up to three hours with each family per home visit, providing asthma management support tailored to the needs of each client. She assists her clients to build relationships with their doctors, and makes sure the clients understand the purpose and proper use of asthma medications. Kim says, “Having someone reinforce the doctor’s instruction is priceless; we need more partnerships between medical personnel and educators in the community.”
Reflecting on what made her a CHW, Kim said, “I thought about ‘what if it was me? Would I want someone to come to my home and share compassion and knowledge?’ The job chose me. I see people every day and I make an impact. I feel humbled that I was chosen; I am not alone but I am improving the quality of life for many families.” She admits that when she heard she was the recipient of a REAL award, “I cried like a baby!” Receiving the award has reinforced her decision to take on this work – and she wants to do more. Kim also encourages others to take on the role; it provides opportunities to help and improve our communities. She concludes: “To see a child not constantly attached to a nebulizer is to see how we can change lives. I love what I do.”
Rosaline Nuhu in Pampaida, Nigeria
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| Rosaline measuring the mid-upper arm circumference of a child to determine her nutritional status. |
Rosaline Nuhu is a Village Health Worker (VHW) working with the Millennium Village Project (MVP) in Pampaida, Nigeria. She has been trained in basic primary health care (including outreach for family planning, antenatal care, TB screening and treatment of common illnesses, such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea). With this information, Rosaline says, she “takes health care to the doorsteps of households in my community…particularly to vulnerable people. I work with all members of the community, although I have a primary target population of pregnant women and children under five.”
She also has a particular focus on preventing and treating malnutrition among children. This kind of work contributes to the MVP’s effort to reach its targets for the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
“Being a CHW,” she says, “helps keep smiles on people’s faces.” It has also allowed her to build her knowledge of primary health, and to become a public figure. She says: “CHWs help reduce the lack of workforce in the health sector, because nurses and doctors cannot get to the grass root – and it is at the grass root that all the primary health issues are found!”
Rosaline believes that her work improves children’s lives by “giving an opportunity to malnourished children to stay healthy.” She is constantly motivated by the response she gets to her work: “The support and cooperation they give to me when conducting my home visits.” The community recognizes that Rosaline’s work is “very challenging” and appreciates that she sacrifices her time to care for their health. She also enjoys the trainings and outreach activities conducted by the project managers.
Rosaline visits over 100 homes each month. There are challenges – Rosaline knows it is hard to support people to change their behaviors, especially to take on healthier habits. Yet, she says, the best part of her job is “when people accept [me] and the counseling and put it into practice.”
Rosaline is “very happy and glad” to receive a REAL Award to honor her passion for reducing malnutrition. She says it is “Very surprising! I never believed I would ever be recognized for my work.”
Her plans for the future have not changed as a result of the award – she says she will continue to volunteer with the infant and young child feeding program and to recruit others to get involved. Rosaline also aims to get a diploma in health care. And her community will continue to benefit from her skills, her commitment and her cheerful work.
More information on these community health workers, and all the other REAL award winners, is available at: http://www.therealawards.com/honorees.
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