The role of community health workers in COVID-19 home-based care: lessons learned from Rwanda

Kamanzi, Collins, Matsiko, Eric, Rugema, Lawrence, Umubyeyi, Aline and Kanya, Lucy ORCID: 0000-0003-4312-118X (2024) The role of community health workers in COVID-19 home-based care: lessons learned from Rwanda. AHOP Policy Briefs. World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, CD. ISBN 9789290314936

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• https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375812
• https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375813

Abstract

Investment in the health system is essential for effective pandemic response: Despite Rwanda’s rapid implementation of control measures to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the country faced several challenges in the early stages, due to inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of trained staff. A home-based care approach alleviated the facility-based care burden during the pandemic: Implemented in September 2020, this key strategy engaged community health workers (CHWs) to provide health education and monitor patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms. The integration of medical doctors (MDs) into home-based care teams strengthened the COVID-19 response in Rwanda: Operation Save the Neighbour, launched in 2021, integrated MDs into home-based care teams. This improved the quality of care provided to COVID-19 patients, enhanced patient monitoring, and offered additional support to CHWs at household level. The provision of continuous support to CHWs contributed to overcoming challenges in implementing home-based care models: CHWs played a critical role in community mobilization and surveillance. However, they faced significant challenges, including fear, anxiety, and overwhelming workloads. To support these frontline workers, ongoing training and an adequate supply of resources, including personal protective equipment (PPE), are required.

Item Type:	Monograph (Report)
Official URL:	https://ahop.aho.afro.who.int/publications/
Additional Information:	© 2024 WHO African Region
Divisions:	LSE Health
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Date Deposited:	15 Mar 2024 11:36
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2024 11:57
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/122391

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