Prioritising the role of community health workers in the COVID-19 response

Authors: Madeleine Ballard, Emily Bancroft, Josh Nesbit, Ari Johnson, Isaac Holeman, Jennifer Foth, Debbie Rogers, Jane Yang, James Nardella, Helen Olsen, Mallika Raghavan, Raj Panjabi, Rebecca Alban, Serah Malaba, Molly Christiansen, Stephanie Rapp, Jennifer Schechter, Patrick Aylward, Ash Rogers, Jacques Sebisaho, Clarise Ako, Nandini Choudhury, Carey Westgate, Julius Mbeya, Ryan Schwarz, Matthew H Bonds, Rehan Adamjee, Julia Bishop, Amanda Yembrick, David Flood, Meg McLaughlin, and Daniel Palazuelos

This action article stresses the significance of CHWs for achieving 4 pivotal goals in the effort against the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations. The authors argue for and present strategies to: “(1) PROTECT healthcare workers, (2) INTERRUPT the virus, (3) MAINTAIN existing healthcare services while surging their capacity, and (4) SHIELD the most vulnerable from socioeconomic shocks.”