CHW Central [www.chwcentral.org] has been posting information on building large scale CHW programs based on the CHW Reference Guide developed by Henry Perry, et al [http://www.mchip.net/sites/default/files/mchipfiles/MCHIP_CHW%20Ref%20Guide.pdf]. We are operationalizing the Reference Guide to support the effort toward national CHW programs. Each chapter is being summarized by CHW experts. Chapter 3 [http://www.chwcentral.org/blog/chapter-3-national-planning-chw-programs] focuses on planning; Dr. Ranu S. Dhillon offers insights from his own experience in building large-scale CHW programs. He notes that the planning stage is critical to ensure the program gets off to the right start. National programs must be tailored to country-specific situations, which requires working with an entity that has the authority, structure, and understanding of the political economy and the local health system to get the right support.
Program planning also requires collaboration with multiple partners and a few key stakeholders committed to seeing the program established. Systems for finance, monitoring and evaluation, managing CHWs and supervision also need to be addressed. To complete each planning stage and implement a working model, a national CHW program requires in-depth engagement with the country’s information systems so that and data and that actions of CHWs can continuously improve and strengthen the health system.
Donna Bjerregaard
Senior Technical Advisor
Initiatives Inc.
264 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02116
Tel: 617 262 0293
Fax: 617 262 2514
AfroPHC 