Community Health Workers

A world where every community health worker will have access to the information and knowledge they need to prevent illness and injury, to recognise serious illness, to provide basic care, and to seek timely help as needed.

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Overview

Funding opportunity: The HIFA CHW project aims to contribute to the HIFA-WHO Collaboration Plan 2022-24, specifically to:

  • further understand and address the healthcare information needs of community health workers; 
  • improve access to reliable information in local languages; and 
  • build capacity of CHWs for communicating health information and education with the public. 

If your organisation is working in any of these areas, contact us to explore possibilities for collaboration: admin@hifa.org

Thank you. 

Empowering Community Health Workers (CHWs) to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage

HIFA  collaborated with Health Systems Global (CHW Thematic Working Group) and other key organisations (icddr,b, Frontline Health Project) on a series of three major HIFA thematic discussions on CHWs, supported by WHO. These discussions promoted the dissemination and uptake of the WHO Guideline on health policy and system support to optimize community health worker programmes (CHW Guideline), launched in October 2018. Over the subsequent 18 months HIFA encourages dissemination on HIFA of all new research, reports, news, events and services relevant to CHWs, to maintain discussion throughout the period.

The first thematic discussion took place in June and July 2019 and focused on selection, training and certification of CHWs (long edit of discussion). Our second thematic discussion was in September/October 2019.

The following questions were offered as a framework for discussion: 

  • Q1. What are your thoughts on the Guideline? What questions do you have about it?
  • Q2. Recommendation 1 suggests certain criteria to use and not to use for selection of CHWs. How do these criteria relate to current practice in your country/experience? Are these criteria implementable in your country/experience?
  • Q3. Recommendations 2, 3 and 4 make suggestions on length of pre-service training, competency domains and modalities. How do these suggestions relate to current practice in your country/experience? Are they implementable in your country/experience?
  • Q4. Recommendation 5 suggests using competency-based formal certification for CHWs who have successfully completed pre-service training. How does this suggestion relate to current practice in your country/experience? Is it implementable in your country/experience?

The new WHO Guideline: Health policy and system support to optimize community based health worker programmes is available here.

Activities

The HIFA Working Group for Community Health Workers is a group of HIFA volunteers who: 

1. promote communication, discussion and debate on the HIFA forums, on the health information and learning needs of CHWs, and how these needs can be more effectively addressed.

2. develop understanding of information needs and how to meet them, and build the relevant parts of the HIFA Voices database 

3. lead the HIFA forums in advocacy to improve the availability and use of health information for CHWs.   

Timeline

2018-2019: Empowering Community Health Workers (CHWs) to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (series of three thematic discussions)

2018 (Apr): Representation on Frontline Health Project (Population Council)

2018 (Jan): Blog: Using WhatsApp to connect Community Health Workers in Uganda with the global HIFA community

2017 (Nov): Participation in 4th Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, Dublin 

2017 (Sep): Representation on World Health Organization CHW Hub of Global Health Workfforce Network

2017 (Aug): Blog: Community Health Workers 

2017 (May): Blog: Community Health Workers feel unrecognised and undervalued 

2017 (Feb): Presentation at Kampala Symposium on CHWs

2017 (Jan-Feb): Thematic discussion on CHWs supported by The Lancet, Health Systems Global, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project

2015 (Sep): Thematic discussion: CHW Data for Decision Making supported by One Million Community Health Workers (1mCHW) Campaign and mPowering Frontline Health Workers .

2010: Launch of HIFA Community Health Workers Project

 

Publications
2019

This is the long edit version of a thematic discussion on HIFA. The discussion is the second of a series of three, supported by WHO. This second discussion looked especially at the issues raised by the Recommendations 6-10 in the WHO Guidleine, covering Appropriate supervision, remuneration, career prospects, and workload. 

2019

This is the full text (96 pages) of a thematic discussion on HIFA. The discussion is the second of a series of three, supported by WHO. This second discussion looked especially at the issues raised by the Recommendations 6-10 in the WHO Guidleine, covering Appropriate supervision, remuneration, career prospects, and workload. 

 

2019

This is the short edit/selected highlights (3 pages) of a thematic discussion on HIFA. The discussion is the first of a series of three, supported by WHO. This first discussion looked especially at the issues raised by the first 5 Recommendations in the WHO Guidleine. For background on the discussion see here.

We had 153 contributions from 40 members in 17 countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Germany, India, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia).
Special thanks to our top contributors: Joseph Ana, Nigeria (14 messages), Sunanda Kolli Reddy, India (10), and Amelia Plant, USA/Egypt (8). And to HIFA volunteer Sam Pakenham-Walsh for collation and synthesis.

2019

This is the long edit (36 pages) of a thematic discussion on HIFA. The discussion is the first of a series of three, supported by WHO. This first discussion looked especially at the issues raised by the first 5 Recommendations in the WHO Guidleine. For background on the discussion see here.

We had 153 contributions from 40 members in 17 countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Germany, India, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia).
Special thanks to our top contributors: Joseph Ana, Nigeria (14 messages), Sunanda Kolli Reddy, India (10), and Amelia Plant, USA/Egypt (8). And to HIFA volunteer Sam Pakenham-Walsh for collation and synthesis.

2017

From 16 January to 24 February 2017, HIFA hosted a major thematic discussion on CHWs, sponsored by The Lancet, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project, around 6 questions. This narrative summary provides an overview of key points made and acknowledges all 65 HIFA members who took part (from Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, and USA) :

  1. The greatest concern identified was the need for respect and recognition from community leaders and health professionals.
  2. Other major concerns were lack of training and supervision; access to healthcare information; remuneration; equipment, medicines, and need for mobile phones/computers.
  3. CHWs are asked to carry out a wide range and ever increasing number of tasks, but often without the appropriate facilities to enable this.
  4. Career progression among female CHWs is limited by gender and transport issues.

 

2017

This is the final report of the Kampala Symposium (shared with permission from the conference organisers). 

1st International Symposium on 
Community Health Workers 
21st – 23rd February 2017, Kampala, Uganda 
Theme: Contribution of Community Health Workers in attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals 

2017

Q5.  Are we expecting too much of CHWs? Is there a risk of exploitation and/or burn-out? How can their work loads be better rationalised? Four themes emerged:

  1. Excessive workload
  2. Data collection and administration
  3. Job aids
  4. Financial compensation

Q6.  How can we meet the information and learning needs of CHWs working in challenging conditions? Four themes emerged:

  1. Mobile phones 
  2. Information resources
  3. Training and knowledge sharing
  4. Career development.

Q3.    Are there enough and appropriate avenues for the voices of CHWs to be heard (by the relevant stakeholders / authorities?)
Q4.    What are the mental health and psychosocial needs of CHWs? How can these needs be better addressed?

These two questions elicited very few responses from any of the stakeholders, whether CHWs, trainers or programme managers. This is perhaps an important area for further enquiry?  

2017
  1. Recognition, respect, identity and inclusion
  2. Logistics and supplies
  3. Finance
  4. Transport
  5. Occupational health
  6. Health systems issues: Referral systems
  7. Other comments
2017

The responses to this question came largely from CHWs themselves, thanks to HIFA members Kavita Bhatia, Sunanda Reddy and Carol Namata, who facilitated inputs from WhatsApp groups in local languages. They are presented under six subheadings:

  1.  Recognition, respect, identity and inclusion
  2.  Logistics and supplies
  3.  Finance
  4.  Gender, hierarchy and transport
  5.  Occupational health and preferential health care
  6.  Systemic issues: responsiveness, corruption.
2017

This is the final version of the Kampala Statement (shared with permission from the conference organisers). The final, formatted version is in preparation. 

From 16 January to 24 February 2017, HIFA hosted a major thematic discussion on CHWs, sponsored by The Lancet, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project, around 6 questions: 
1.    When listening to CHWs needs and priorities, what do they say is needed to enable them to do their work more effectively? 
2.    How are these needs being addressed? Where are the gaps?
3.    Are there enough and appropriate avenues for the voices of CHWs to be heard (by the relevant stakeholders / authorities?)
4.    What are the mental health and psychosocial needs of CHWs? How can these needs be better addressed?
5.    Are we expecting too much of CHWs? Is there a risk of exploitation and/or burn-out? How can their work loads be better rationalised?
6.    How can we meet the information and learning needs of CHWs working in challenging conditions? 

From 16 January to 24 February 2017, HIFA hosted a 6-week thematic discussion on CHWs, sponsored by The Lancet, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project. Here are the messages in full from Week Two.

From 16 January to 24 February 2017, HIFA hosted a 6-week thematic discussion on CHWs, sponsored by The Lancet, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project. Here are the messages in full from Week Three.

From 16 January to 24 February 2017, HIFA hosted a 6-week thematic discussion on CHWs, sponsored by The Lancet, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project. Here are the messages in full from Week Four.

2017

From 16 January to 24 February 2017, HIFA hosted a 6-week thematic discussion on CHWs, sponsored by The Lancet, Reachout Project/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, World Vision International and USAID Assist Project. Here are the messages in full from Week Five.

This is the poster for the 1st International Symposium on Community Health Workers, provided by David Musoke for information. The website for the conference is http://chwsymposium.musph.ac.ug/ 

2017

HIFA CHW Working Group Terms of Reference

Members
Name Country
Amelia Abdelrazik Egypt
Aparna John United Kingdom
Baba Aye France
Carol Namata Uganda
Catherine Kane Switzerland
Dan Irvine United States
David Musoke Uganda
Dilruba Nomani Bangladesh
Edward Kakooza Uganda
Faye Moody United Kingdom
James O'Donovan United Kingdom
Joseph Ana Nigeria
Marco Meneses United States
Marion Subah Liberia
Michelle Janse van Rensburg South Africa
Neil Pakenham-Walsh United Kingdom
Niall Winters United Kingdom
Polly Walker United Kingdom
Rebecca Furth United States
Sanghita Bhattacharyya India
Shagufta Perveen Australia
Shobhana Nagraj United Kingdom
Simon Moore United Kingdom
Simon Lewin Norway
Sunanda Reddy India
Zohra Lassi Australia
Further information

We are grateful to the World Health Organization for supporting our work in 2018/2019.