One of the dominant themes in health policy and planning today is the need for interventions based on sound evidence of effectiveness. The responsibility of ensuring programmes are consistent with the best available evidence must be shared between providers, policy makers and consumers of services. Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) have been major players in the implementation of primary healthcare since the 1980s, and still continue to play a critical role in mobilising communities in taking care of their health, and providing basic healthcare at community level. To enable CHVs be more effective and efficient, there is need for appropriate training, not only in community mobilisation but also in the assessment of health-related issues in the community, and identification of appropriate actions at that level. Such training need be well planned and implemented using standard training manual that take into account the level of operation and capacity of CHVs. This also requires the support of well-trained and informed trainers and supervisors from the formal healthcare system. This training manual is meant to assist the healthcare system at all the four tiers to operationalise the community strategy by providing appropriate training for CHVs to enable them take charge of appropriate interventions at tier 1. The Government of Kenya is committed to supporting community health initiatives this way, and accelerating the achievement of the current NHSSP II goals, MDGs and providing support to Vision 2030. The CHV training manual is organised in Modules which should be applied incrementally to enable the CHVs develop adequate capacity for working with communities.
Bibliography
Theme area
Equitable health services, Governance and participation in health
Title of publication Community health volunteers (CHVs) Basic Modules Manual- Facilitators Guide
Date of publication
2013
Publication type
Publication details
/ / / pp /-/
Publication status
Published
Language
English
Keywords
primary care; health committees; health workers; participation; Kenya
Abstract
Country
Publisher
Ministry of Health Kenya
