Hello TechNet colleagues,
I’m excited to share a new resource from VillageReach that highlights the critical role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in expanding equitable access to immunization services. The resource - Elevating CHWs Role in Immunization: The Key to Equitable Access and Increased Demand https://bit.ly/3WFj2i5 identifies the variety of roles CHWs can hold in immunization service delivery. From outreach to planning, to demand generation and even administration of oral and injectable vaccines with the right support CHWs can increase access to vaccines for everyone.
Evidence from our work with CHWs is showing measurable impact, and we believe CHWs are an underutilized resource to increase vaccination rates, especially for under-reached communities. VillageReach wants to support expanding CHWs’ role in immunization service delivery in three main ways:
- Using CHWs for Vaccine Demand Generation
- CHWs for Planning and Outreach
- Upskilling of CHWs as Vaccinators
We want to hear from you! What are some promising CHW-led approaches have you seen work well in your immunization activities? What are the barriers that you see to having those promising approaches scaled up?
Given the global funding landscale, many countries are re-visiting the role of CHWs and how they can be leveraged to fill HrH and service delivery gaps. So this topic is very relevant and timely. Looking forward to your insights and perspectives on this thread.
Best regards,
Rebecca Alban
Senior Manager, Health Workforce
VillageReach