Authors: Christina Mergenthaler, Ankie van den Broek, Noor Tromp, Kimberly Nehal, Jip Janssen, Shiyong Wang, T T Samba, Mohammed Vandhi, Alpha Augustin Kombo, Osman Sankoh, M Koblo Kamara, Mirjam I Bakker
Community-Based Surveillance (CBS) systems help detect and report diseases early in outbreak-prone areas. After the Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone trained community health workers (CHWs) to monitor 11 key health conditions. A 2019 study found that CBS matched disease reports from health facilities in functional areas, improving early detection. However, challenges like funding gaps, lack of training, and poor support for CHWs, including unpaid stipends and transportation costs, hindered effectiveness. Despite these issues, CBS improved communication between communities and health systems. To sustain its benefits, barriers like funding and resources must be addressed.
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Resource Topic: CHW programs, Ebola, Surveillance
Resource Type: Mixed Methods
Year: 2024
Region:
Country: Sierra Leone
Publisher May Restrict Access: No
