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
Community Health Workers: Putting “Community” in the MaineHealth Vision
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are becoming an important part of the MaineHealth system. Their work is helping patients stay engaged in their care and improving health outcomes. Using data from 2024 and patient feedback, this illustration shows how CHWs are making a positive difference for patients, care teams, and local communities. … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers: Putting “Community” in the MaineHealth Vision
Are Economic Evaluations of Task Shifting Too Narrow in Focus? A Rapid Review
This study reviewed research from 2014 to 2024 on the costs and benefits of task shifting, where health tasks are moved from highly trained workers to others like community health workers, to help address staff shortages. While most studies looked at health costs and outcomes, many failed to consider other important effects like staff workload, access to care, waiting times, … [Read more...] about Are Economic Evaluations of Task Shifting Too Narrow in Focus? A Rapid Review
Timeliness of malaria treatment in children under five years in Uganda: an analysis of 2016 demographic health survey data
This study looked at what affects how quickly children under five in Uganda receive malaria treatment. Using data from over 4,000 children, it found that 41% of them got treatment later than the recommended 24 hours after symptoms started. Children received treatment faster when both parents made health decisions together, when care was sought from community health workers … [Read more...] about Timeliness of malaria treatment in children under five years in Uganda: an analysis of 2016 demographic health survey data
Solving area-based problems through intellectual empowerment: a model for developing village health volunteers’ and public health officials’ competencies in producing academic work
This study aimed to improve the ability of village health volunteers (VHVs) and public health officers in Thailand to create useful academic work that can help solve local health problems. A new model, called the 5Ps (Policy, Preparation, Practice, Publication, and Positive reinforcement), was developed and tested. After using the model, both VHVs and health officers showed … [Read more...] about Solving area-based problems through intellectual empowerment: a model for developing village health volunteers’ and public health officials’ competencies in producing academic work