Tuberculosis in Australia has been eradicated in nearly all communities, with the exception of rare cases in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities. The rarity of this disease presents a challenge to the care of those with positive diagnoses, as local workers may be inexperienced and underprepared to address TB. Andrea Miller and colleagues report a case study … [Read more...] about Supporting holistic care for patients with tuberculosis in a remote Indigenous community: a case report.
Infectious/communicable diseases
Rapid literature review: Community health workers
CHWs performed as key actors during the Ebola, Zika, and Marburg outbreaks. Shuchi Srinivasan and Radhika Arora surveyed research examining barriers and facilitators to CHW-based responses to these outbreaks. Some barriers included gaps in knowledge and skills, failure to address PPE-related needs among CHWs, and the mental health impacts of living through a pandemic. … [Read more...] about Rapid literature review: Community health workers
COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for community-centered population health: Community health workers at the center
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the US healthcare system and the impacts of underinvestment in public health. Hobert Goldfield and colleagues outlined several state responses to the virus and the importance of CHWs in reducing its spread. The researchers called for governments to recruit greater CHW engagement in state response planning. … [Read more...] about COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for community-centered population health: Community health workers at the center
COVID-19: Africa needs unprecedented attention to strengthen community health systems
The health workforce in general and CHWs in particular played an instrumental role in curbing the effects of the 2014-2016 Ebola virus outbreak. Lyudmila Neponmnyashchiy and her colleagues provide a brief comparison between the Ebola virus outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for sub-Saharan African governments to invest in CHW workforce strengthening and … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Africa needs unprecedented attention to strengthen community health systems
Community health workers reveal COVID-19 disaster in Brazil
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazilian CHWs have received limited access to infection control training and personal protective equipment due to a lack of recognition as health professionals by the government. Gabriela Lotta and her colleagues describe the impacts of these decisions on CHW health and wellbeing. … [Read more...] about Community health workers reveal COVID-19 disaster in Brazil