This brief discusses how integrating community health worker programs into the health system can help increase access to family planning by bringing information, services, and supplies to women and men in the communities where they live and work, rather than requiring them to visit health facilities. CHWs address geographic, financial, and social barriers in regards to family … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers: Bringing Family Planning Services to Where People Live and Work
USAID/Madagascar and Community Health Volunteers: Working in Partnership to Achieve Health Goals
Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) have played a critical role in the success of USAID in Madagascar’s health sector. As CHVs, they can provide basic health care services and health education at the community level, thus improving health care access in remote regions. This report highlights the successes and challenges of USAID/Madagascar’s investment in CHVs. … [Read more...] about USAID/Madagascar and Community Health Volunteers: Working in Partnership to Achieve Health Goals
The cost-effectiveness of close-to-community health programmes: What do we know and where are the gaps?
Critical shortages in the health workforce in many developing countries - specifically the number, skills and geographic distribution of health workers - pose a significant challenge to the achievement of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasing attention has therefore been focused on the potential of community health workers (CHWs) to … [Read more...] about The cost-effectiveness of close-to-community health programmes: What do we know and where are the gaps?
Retention of health workers in rural Sierra Leone: findings from life histories
In light of the health worker shortage due to the post-conflict period and Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, it is crucially important to understand different motivation factors for rural health workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives and Community Health Workers. Researchers conducted 23 participatory life histories with health workers, revealing that the context of the rural … [Read more...] about Retention of health workers in rural Sierra Leone: findings from life histories
Mounting Evidence of the Effectiveness and Versatility of Community Health Workers
Recent years have proven that community health workers serve important roles in healthcare systems, including in the United States. This article briefly discusses the effectiveness and versatility of community health workers and their various roles in healthcare delivery systems. The evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of community health workers in many diverse public … [Read more...] about Mounting Evidence of the Effectiveness and Versatility of Community Health Workers