By Kirsty Luescher | Project Chair
As well as providing on the spot medical care and health education for communities in Zambia who live in difficult to access areas, On Call Africa also hopes to create a system of sustainable health care by providing training to local health workers.
The ‘community health worker’ (CHW) is an individual chosen by the local community and trained to deal with basic health problems and work in close relation to wider health services. On Call Africa works closely with local Community Health Workers (CHW’s) during monthly mobile medical clinics. CHW’s ensure their community is made aware of the free medical services available, run a child weight monitoring program during clinic days and provide translation services for international medical professionals who work on our clinics.
During On Call Africa’s pilot project in 2011, On Call Africa identified the degree of training, resources and support that existed for CHW’s. Due to the remote locations of these CHW’s, updates in training and provision of basic medical supplies were lacking. On Call held monthly training sessions for CHW’s focusing on topics such as recognising ill health, manage of wounds and basic first aid. To ensure CHW’s were able to become active in their communities, they were also provided with basic first aid and wound management kits. After years of having to walk up to 30 km to reach their nearest health facility, patients who developed ill health had a local point of contact to discuss and even receive basic treatment for their ill health. CHW’s are motivated to improve the health of their communities and have requested further training.
On Call Africa has used the experience of working closely with Community Health Workers to develop a more comprehensive CHW training program, offering training to 18 individuals over a 24-month period. Training will include theory sessions, practical on the job experience and work-based assessments. Launching in 2015, On Call Africa hopes that this program can be replicated in other areas to ensure that rural areas in Zambia have continuous, high quality health care, as close to the family as possible.
By Rulon Henderson | Project Coordinator
By Ellyn Lambeck | Project Leader
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