Africa

Supportive supervision visits in a large community hypertension programme in Nigeria: implementation methods and outcomes

This study looked at how adding supportive supervision helped improve a program for treating high blood pressure in 60 health centers in Nigeria. The program used community health workers to lead care. From 2020 to 2023, regular supervision visits were done, and the results showed better patient care, more accurate records, and improved staffing. Some challenges remained, like … [Read more...] about Supportive supervision visits in a large community hypertension programme in Nigeria: implementation methods and outcomes

This study looked at how well disease outbreaks are tracked in five refugee camps across Sudan, Syria, and South Sudan. Most outbreaks were reported late—over 70% took more than 72 hours to report—leading to high death rates from diseases like cholera and hepatitis E. Many camps didn’t have early warning systems or ways for the community to report health issues. While community … [Read more...] about Epidemiology of Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Displacement Settings: Surveillance Gaps and Community-Based Solutions in Refugee Camps

This study evaluated the impact of community health workers (CHWs) on maternal and newborn health in six internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Chad, Sudan, and Somalia. Over one year, CHWs supported pregnant women with antenatal education, referrals, immunizations, and home-based care. Results showed major improvements: antenatal care attendance rose from 41% to 96%, … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Impact on Maternal and Child Health in Displaced Populations: A Prospective Cohort Study

In Mali, staying in care is a challenge for people living with HIV (PLHIV) due to social, economic, and structural barriers. This study explored how community health workers (CHWs) support retention in care. Interviews with PLHIV, including key populations, highlighted four key roles of CHWs: fostering good patient-provider relationships, providing peer support, ensuring … [Read more...] about The added value of community-based organisations in retaining people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the continuum of care in Mali

Community health workers are essential for achieving universal health coverage and reducing health inequalities by providing key healthcare services. African leaders aim to expand this workforce, but there is uncertainty about how many are needed. Estimates suggest that depending on their working hours, the number of community health workers required ranges from 11.2 to 59.5 … [Read more...] about Community Health Worker Requirements to Accelerate Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage in Africa: An Overview of Contemporary Estimates and Implications of Full-Time Versus Part-Time Working Arrangements