The Ebola pandemic of 2014-16 demonstrated the crucial role of the community health workforce in preventing, responding to, and effectively treating health emergencies. As the West Africa region rebuilds its health systems after Ebola, countries and communities have identified a need to develop strategies and plans to embed the role of the community health worker (CHW) as a … [Read more...] about Unlocking the community health workforce potential, post-Ebola: what models and strategies work?
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Performance of Community Health Workers: Optimizing the Benefits of their Unique Position between Communities and the Health Sector
Maryse Kok's thesis aims to gain insight into how performance of CHWs in low-middle income countries (LMIC) can be improved, in order to contribute to the realization of better informed, more effective and sustainable CHW programmes and ultimately improved health status of poor and rural communities. … [Read more...] about Performance of Community Health Workers: Optimizing the Benefits of their Unique Position between Communities and the Health Sector
Community health workers for universal health-care coverage: from fragmentation to synergy
To achieve universal health coverage, health systems will have to reach into every community, including the poorest and hardest to access. Since Alma-Ata, inconsistent support of community health workers (CHWs) and failure to integrate them into the health system have impeded full realization of their potential contribution in the context of primary health care. Scaling up and … [Read more...] about Community health workers for universal health-care coverage: from fragmentation to synergy
Safety and Acceptability of Community-Based Distribution of Injectable Contraceptives: A Pilot Project in Mozambique
Mozambique has witnessed a climbing total fertility rate in the last 20 years. Nearly one-third of married women have an unmet need for family planning, but the supply of family planning services is not meeting the demand. This study aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of training 2 cadres of community health workers—traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and agentes … [Read more...] about Safety and Acceptability of Community-Based Distribution of Injectable Contraceptives: A Pilot Project in Mozambique
Challenges Facing Successful Scaling Up of Effective Screening for Cardiovascular Disease by Community Health Workers in Mexico and South Africa: Policy Implications
The integration of community health workers (CHWs) into primary and secondary prevention functions in health programs and services delivery in Mexico and South Africa has been demonstrated to be effective. This paper aims to identify barriers and challenges to these types of CHW programs by comparing the experiences of earlier studies with successful programs. Barriers reviewed … [Read more...] about Challenges Facing Successful Scaling Up of Effective Screening for Cardiovascular Disease by Community Health Workers in Mexico and South Africa: Policy Implications