Save Lives in the World's Most Remote Villages

Since the launch of Liberia’s National Community Health Assistant (NCHA) Program in July of 2016, progress has been ongoing to roll-out key components of the program.  Last Mile Health (LMH) continues to support the Government of Liberia and the Ministry of Health to ensure that community health workers on the ground are trained, equipped, managed, and adequately supported to deliver healthcare to remote areas of the country.  

Most recently, LMH, along with other implementing partners, met to discuss lessons learned from Community Health Services Supervisor (CHSS) trainings that have been completed in select counties. In Rivercess County, 19 CHSSs (who are responsible for supervising the Community Health Assistants or CHAs) recently completed their month-long training in the standardized national curriculum, joining the ranks of 277 CHSSs around the country who recently undertook this training.

The training included guided learning sessions on how best to supervise CHAs and ensure a high quality of care delivery in the following content areas: Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health; TB & HIV Outreach; Vaccination Outreach; Antenatal Outreach; and general Integrated Community Case Management.

CHAs across the country, like Abendego (pictured below with CEO and Founder of Last Mile Health, Dr. Raj Panjabi) of the Gorblee Community in Rivercess, have started their training as of January 16^th, 2017. Abendego works in a catchment area of about 100 households, all of which will soon be receiving care through Liberia’s NCHA Program. Last year, Abendego was the CHA on hand for early detection of malnutrition of an infant in his community. Thanks to Abendego, the child was referred to the main referral hospital in Rivercess County, St. Francis Hospital, for follow up care. Today, he is a healthy and energetic one year-old. Abendego’s work as a CHA has empowered him to think about continued professional advancement and perhaps returning to school in the near future.

The realization of LMH’s vision of “a health worker for everyone, everywhere, every day” requires buy-in from more than the government and its implementing partners. This vision is also fueled by the optimism and faith of the communities being served and the approximately 1.2 million Liberians living five kilometers out of reach of the nearest health facility. Expectant mothers who travel across rivers and through the rainforest to receive antenatal care do so because they trust the information and outreach services delivered by CHAs like Abendego. Thanks to generous support from the GlobalGiving community, key features of an inclusive and equitable health system are beginning to take root in Liberia. On behalf of all of the patients receiving care at the last mile, thank you for your continued partnership.

Links:

• Last Mile Health's Website