This article reports on the important contributions of community health volunteers in the success of primary health care in Thailand. More than 800,000 health volunteers, including Buddhist monks and their temples, work to promote primary health care and health promotion across the country. … [Read more...] about Thailand’s unsung heroes
Assessment of the Training of the First Intake of Health Extension Workers
This study assessed the first year of Ethiopia’s Health Extension Worker (HEW) training program, a central component of the Health Extension Program's (HEP). The authors used a questionnaire and observations on the training program’s inputs, processes, and outputs. They found that the training centers lacked adequate facilities for the HEW trainees and the selection and … [Read more...] about Assessment of the Training of the First Intake of Health Extension Workers
Moving Towards Best Practice: Documenting and Learning from Existing Community Health/Care Worker Programmes
This study sought to identify best practices in deployment of community health and care workers (CHWs and CCWs). Studies conducted in each of South Africa’s 9 provinces assessed the extent to which CHW deployment has addressed important health priorities; documented success stories and lessons; and developed an understanding of the range of ways that CHW programs have evolved … [Read more...] about Moving Towards Best Practice: Documenting and Learning from Existing Community Health/Care Worker Programmes
The role of community health workers in improving child health programmes in Mali
This article reports on a study assessing the performance of CHWs in the promotion of basic child health services in rural Mali. The study was conducted as a community based cross-sectional survey. Data were collected from 401 child caregivers and 72 CHWs. Analysis showed a positive influence of CHWs on family health practices. The authors conclude that providing continuous … [Read more...] about The role of community health workers in improving child health programmes in Mali
Afghanistan- Innovations in Family Planning, The Accelerating Contraceptive Use Project
This case study details the “Accelerating Contraceptive Use Project” managed by MSH in Afghanistan between 2004 and 2006. Through the project, four Afghan NGOs, MSH and the Ministry of Public Health worked with CHWs to promote various contraceptive methods for birth spacing. Three components helped the project achieve success at both the community and policy levels: … [Read more...] about Afghanistan- Innovations in Family Planning, The Accelerating Contraceptive Use Project