CHW Central

A global resource for and about Community Health Workers

Community Health Workers/Volunteers

Iranian health houses open the door to primary care

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This article reviews Iran’s “Health Houses,” which were conceived and introduced during the country’s 1980-1988 war with Iraq. The health houses are run by trained CHWs, called behvarzan, who provide basic health care to most of the country's rural population. Female behvarz are typically responsible for child and maternal health, vaccinations, registration and administering … [Read more...] about Iranian health houses open the door to primary care

Six Guiding Principles of Streamlining Community-based Programs

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This report summarizes six guiding principles and lessons learned that emerged from the work of an MOH/BASICS team developing a community-based IMCI program in Madagascar. The principles elaborated for streamlining community-based programs are: 1. Action-based messages; 2. Easy-to-use front-line teaching tools; 3. Short skill-based trainings; 4. Engaging large numbers of … [Read more...] about Six Guiding Principles of Streamlining Community-based Programs

Thailand’s unsung heroes

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This article reports on the important contributions of community health volunteers in the success of primary health care in Thailand. More than 800,000 health volunteers, including Buddhist monks and their temples, work to promote primary health care and health promotion across the country. … [Read more...] about Thailand’s unsung heroes

Assessment of the Training of the First Intake of Health Extension Workers

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This study assessed the first year of Ethiopia’s Health Extension Worker (HEW) training program, a central component of the Health Extension Program's (HEP). The authors used a questionnaire and observations on the training program’s inputs, processes, and outputs. They found that the training centers lacked adequate facilities for the HEW trainees and the selection and … [Read more...] about Assessment of the Training of the First Intake of Health Extension Workers

Moving Towards Best Practice: Documenting and Learning from Existing Community Health/Care Worker Programmes

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This study sought to identify best practices in deployment of community health and care workers (CHWs and CCWs). Studies conducted in each of South Africa’s 9 provinces assessed the extent to which CHW deployment has addressed important health priorities; documented success stories and lessons; and developed an understanding of the range of ways that CHW programs have evolved … [Read more...] about Moving Towards Best Practice: Documenting and Learning from Existing Community Health/Care Worker Programmes