Dr. Madeleine Ballard leads the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC), a global group working to make professional community health workers a standard part of healthcare. CHIC is making professional community health workers (proCHWs) the norm worldwide by changing guidelines, funding, and policy. She helps push for policies that improve care for both patients and health … [Read more...] about Q&A with Madeleine Ballard
Editorial
Community health workers: A key to halting Africa’s mpox outbreak
In response to the mpox outbreak declared a health emergency in 2024, Africa CDC and WHO led a coordinated effort across Africa with strong support from governments and global partners. A key part of the response was deploying thousands of community health workers (CHWs) in high-risk areas to support case tracking, vaccination, and public education. While major progress was … [Read more...] about Community health workers: A key to halting Africa’s mpox outbreak
Community Health Workers
Community health workers (CHWs) are trusted caregivers from the communities they serve. They help fill health care gaps and support people beyond clinic walls. Despite their important role, CHWs often face challenges like low pay, safety concerns, discrimination, and lack of support. Anthropologists have studied these problems and offered ideas to improve CHWs' working … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers
Moving Towards a South African NHI System of Excellence: Recommendations Based on the Insider Perspectives of CHWs as Key Role-Players
South Africa’s government is improving primary health care through a new plan supported by National Health Insurance (NHI), with Community Health Workers (CHWs) playing a key role. This article shares the views of 31 CHWs from an NHI pilot district and gives suggestions to improve the program. These include having clear team leaders, providing regular training, keeping records … [Read more...] about Moving Towards a South African NHI System of Excellence: Recommendations Based on the Insider Perspectives of CHWs as Key Role-Players
Critical roles of community health workers in combating stunting in low and middle-income countries
Stunting remains a major health problem in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, affecting millions of children under five. It leads to poor physical growth, learning difficulties, and reduced productivity later in life. Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a key role in fighting stunting by educating families, promoting good … [Read more...] about Critical roles of community health workers in combating stunting in low and middle-income countries