April and early May are bookended by World Health Worker Week (April 7-11) and International Day of the Midwife (May 5) -- two opportunities to recognize the invaluable contributions of health workers in saving and bettering the lives of our communities. The women and men who have been on my mind are the innumerable hard-working, selfless, often heroic frontline health workers … [Read more...] about How To Inspire Courage, Spur Action And Save Lives
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
Improved Data on Community Health Workers Critical to Achieving Global Health Goals
Cape Town, South Africa, September 29, 2014 – A new report finds that developing nations’ ability to deal with pressing health challenges like HIV/AIDS and ensuring maternal and newborn survival will be strengthened by creating a common definition for community health workers, as well as a core set of skills and competencies that would help ensure they are optimally trained, … [Read more...] about Improved Data on Community Health Workers Critical to Achieving Global Health Goals
Improving Maternal and Newborn Health: Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Program in Rural Kenya
This study looked at the effectiveness of CHW projects in rural Kenya that aimed to promote better maternal newborn health knowledge and to increase deliveries under skilled attendance. Some pieces of information that were examined included: relevant demographic items, knowledge about maternal and newborn health, and whether a retrospective birth history of women’s children … [Read more...] about Improving Maternal and Newborn Health: Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Program in Rural Kenya
Supervising Illiterate Community Health Workers in South Sudan to Deliver Integrated Community Case Management Services for Newborns and Children
Improving and maintaining the clinical skills of frontline health workers over time is critical for strengthening health systems and providing adequate care to mothers, newborns, and children - supervision is widely recognized as a key to improving health worker performance. In Warrap State, South Sudan, a 13-month study was undertaken to describe and assess a supervision … [Read more...] about Supervising Illiterate Community Health Workers in South Sudan to Deliver Integrated Community Case Management Services for Newborns and Children
Global Surgery 2030: evidence and solutions for achieving health, welfare, and economic development
Remarkable gains have been made in global health in the past 25 years, but progress has not been uniform. Mortality and morbidity from common conditions needing surgery have grown in the world's poorest regions, both in real terms and relative to other health gains. At the same time, development of safe, essential, life-saving surgical and anaesthesia care in low-income and … [Read more...] about Global Surgery 2030: evidence and solutions for achieving health, welfare, and economic development