Village Health Workers: Considering Their Potential Role in the Current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Outbreak
Abstract
An overview of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the current outbreak
was discussed. The void created by the loss of health care
workers and the increased need for village health workers (VHWs)
was highlighted. The clinical manifestations of EVD in past and current
outbreaks were also examined. The implementation of VHWs
in various countries before the 1978 Declaration of Alma, Ata was
reviewed. Village health workers are also called community health
workers (CHW). They are called by different names around the world
and they have different levels of training. Some are trained in only
one area like the traditional birth attendants. The village health care
worker was identified as part of Primary Health Care and their roles
in different countries were explored. The positive impact in the
health status of the communities after the introduction of VHW
was also highlighted. In this present outbreak, there has been antagonism
towards health care workers which has sometimes ended
fatally. As part of community participation, VHWs are selected by the
community they serve and this would reduce the antagonism sometimes
directed at health care workers that are viewed as strangers
and not as members of the community. The potential role of VHW
as contact tracers, counselors, health educators, temperature monitors
and first contact with the health system in the control of EVD
was also highlighted. The governments of the three most affected
countries should collaborate with countries that have employed the
use of VHWs in EVD outbreaks.
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