New strategy for community health workers

Shamiso Yikoniko

ZIMBABWE is on the verge of adopting a community-based health strategy, which will layout approaches to address gaps in the health delivery system and aid the recognition of community health workers.

It is understood that various stakeholders are now finalising the policy that will run between 2019 and 2023.

The strategy aims to fully integrate primary health care, community health workers and volunteers into the mainstream health sector.

It also comes as Zimbabwe joins the world in the revival of the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration that sought to recognise the importance of primary health care.

Ministry of Health and Child Care Policy and Planning deputy director Mr Tonderai Kadzere said community health workers provide an important continuity link in the health sector.

“Many low and middle income countries rely on a robust community health workforce, but few are self-sustaining; while many rely heavily on external donors,” he said at a recent workshop to validate the community-based health strategy in Mutare.”

According to the World Health Organisation, access to community services can prevent up to three million deaths annually and substantially reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs.