Authors: Estelle D Watson, Shabir Moosa, Dina C Janse Van Rensburg, Martin Schwellnus, Estelle V Lambert, Mark Stoutenberg
In low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing, stressing healthcare systems. To address this, the report proposes expanding the role of community health workers (CHWs) in prescribing and promoting physical activity. This discussion paper introduces a model for task-shifting, assigning CHWs tasks like assessment, screening, counseling, and prescription of physical activity. These tasks form a structured, standardized approach to prevent NCDs, making CHWs integral to reducing their burden in LMICs. However, successful implementation requires CHWs to receive ongoing training and supervision on physical activity and lifestyle behaviors in low-resource settings.
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Resource Topic: CHW
Resource Type: Discussion
Year: 2024
Region: Africa
Country: South Africa
Publisher May Restrict Access: No