GUIDE
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline worker dedicated to providing quality health care to their local community. Their close relationship with those they serve fosters a trust that gives their health recommendations, diagnoses, and referrals added authority.1 As a link to available health facilities, clinics, and other resources, the community health worker’s objective is to improve the quality and availability of healthcare for underserved communities.
Most vulnerable populations are unable to access health services where they live – and when they can, the quality of care is usually low. Community health workers can offer essential care to these communities where they live. According to the World Health Organization, “the increased coverage of essential health services and improved equity in coverage envisioned by well-functioning community health worker programmes will result in fewer deaths and illnesses and lower disease burdens.”
Learn more about Community Health Workers through our comprehensive guide
Included in our Guide to Community Health Workers
Roles and Responsibilities
Community health workers can take on a number of different roles in their community, including responsibilities for different aspects of service delivery and the health system.
Challenges
While the community health worker model is a promising approach to healthcare for underserved populations, there are numerous issues that CHWs can face in their day-to-day work.
National-Scale Initiatives
In February 2019, USAID released a landscape analysis of 22 countries that employ a national-scale community health worker model.
Evidence of Impact
In reviews, the community health worker model has been proven to improve both health outcomes and patient knowledge – in some cases, at a lower cost than traditional healthcare programs.
Mobile Data Collection
A key recommendation in the World Health Organization’s guidelines for community health worker programs highlights the value that mobile devices can provide.
Case Studies and Resources
Many programs employing a community health worker model have chosen CommCare to support the needs of their workers.
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Supporting vulnerable newborns and young children to reach their developmental potential through nurturing care and intensive interventions during the first 1,000 days.
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Hear from Customers using CommCare to Improve their Frontline Program Performance
Cure Violence Global
“CommCare is a mission-critical, strategic platform for us. We have been able to turn data into a strategic advantage, showcasing our impact and driving funding.”
- Dr. Charles Elliott, Director of Data Management
Catholic Relief Services
“We use CommCare extensively to design data collection tools for both development and humanitarian contexts, appreciating its flexibility for both one-off surveys and case management.”
- Nora Lindström, Senior Director, ICT4D
MHP Salud
“CommCare has allowed us to really streamline the data collection process. CHWs find it easy to capture critical information in the moment with families.”
- Dr Maggie Dante, CEO
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